sitting timing with a msd

[my454s10]

i was reading some other post on timing...now i am confussed...i have always used my ear...but now i want to use a light...so i got a new timing light with a dial...exactly how do i use this..also my distribtor is a msd probillet

[speeder]

IS the dial for backing out timing? To use it just have the dial set at the timing you want (10 for 10 degrees BTDC), then run motor warm, with vac advance disconnected and hole on carb plugged (where the vacuum comes from). Point the light at hte balancer and see where the marks line up. If the marks are not lined up, then you can change the dial and see when the pointer from the timing cover points at the mark on the dampner. Once they are aligned you can tell what the timing is now. If you want to change the timing of the motor, just turn the distributor.



I also have RPM display on my timing light, so once I have the timing set, I set the idle again and tweek the idle jets to just below the highest RPM they can get, then I set the idle again.

[tracker]

the dial can be used for total timing too. if you want 34* at 3000rpm, set the dial to the setting you want and with a friend run the motor to 3000 and point to the timing marks. the reading at the balancer should be at 0 if your total timing is == to the dialed in setting. if not turn distributor.

[S10gator]

If you can afford a light with the LCD readout w/Tach this will allow for a one person operation. I really like mine.



Equus Digital Advance Timing Light



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S10Gator

[my454s10]

i am wanting around 32-36 total timing....do i set the motor at like 20 than the va* does the rest or what....how much does the vacmum advace pull...like if i set it at 30 ..when the va* kicks in what would it be at...

[Scotty_S-15]

When 32 to 36 deg. total timing is mentioned, this is WITHOUT vacuum. That is, vacuum advance disconnected. The logic here is that under full load (WOT) there is no vacuum advance anyway, and more advance than the 32 to 36 is a good thing in cruising mode when the vacuum advance is in operation. But more than the 36 or 38 could be lethal at WOT.

........ So if you set your timing at 14 degrees initial (low idle, vacuum disconnected) and check it again at 4K, it should show 32 to 36.

[my454s10]

so i need to disconnect the advance and bring the rpm to around 3000-4000 and set it at 32...or what ever is it that i want it at....am i understanding this correctly.....

[mzoomora]

Set your base timing at about 12 degrees, then check and see how much total you have. Run it up to about 3500 in case it is coming in later, and check your total timing. If your total timing is at 32 and you want 36, then just add 4 degrees to your base timing and recheck it. Easier than trying to hold the rpms steddy and adjust and hold the light at the same time (you only have 2 hands). Also, the MSD distributors usually have adjustable mechanical advances. Most distributors allow you to control how fast the mechanical advance comes in, but the MSD allows you to control how much also.

[my454s10]

when i am checking the total timing ..is that with the vacaum hook up or not hooked up

[327Isuzu]

Vacuum disconnected for total advance setting.