PK
Contributor
Posts: 138
Reg: 09-08-10
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01-30-11 02:28 PM - Post#2039631
Can anyone tell me what its supposed to be? I know that its off but dont know where it needs to be set.
thanks,
Paul
1964 Impala SS
1949 3100 SWB |
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dbradley
Contributor
Posts: 838
Loc: Sapulpa, OK
Reg: 11-15-09
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01-30-11 03:09 PM - Post#2039657
In response to PK
250hp 4* BTDC
300hp 8* BTDC
Dave Bradley
62 Belair 496 TKO600
33 3W Master Coupe
06 C6 coupe 6spd |
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doubleE
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3935
Loc: Eagan MN
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01-30-11 05:02 PM - Post#2039706
In response to dbradley
Pauls are the correct factory specs. But I believe the 4 and 8 degrees BDTC were compermises based a the leaded fuels available back then.
There are several varibles that come into play... fuel, condition of the engine, and enviroment just to name three.
If you are really into getting the best performance I would use those specs as a starting point and start to increase the retard say by 2 degrees at a time and drive the car keeping careful track of mileage as an indicator. And if it starts to ping on hard accelleration, you have gone too far.
Eric
| Proud owner of
My Blue 62
Impala SS |
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 62chevy427
"18th Year" Silver Supporting Member
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01-30-11 06:15 PM - Post#2039758
In response to doubleE
i agree with doubleE
56 bel air ((since 2002)
62 impala ss (since 1965)
65 el camino (since 1969)
66 nova (since 1987)
67 malibu convertible (since 1981)
72 el camino ss454 (since 1985)
83 gmc 4wd (since 1991)
95 impala (new)
15 chevy equinox
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Edited by 62chevy427 on 01-30-11 06:15 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Verne_Frantz
DECEASED - Member #574 "61-64 Subject Matter Expert"
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01-30-11 07:52 PM - Post#2039811
In response to doubleE
Eric, Don't you mean, "increase the "advance""???
Verne 
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4 spd Dewey
Forum Newbie
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Age: 53
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01-31-11 06:29 AM - Post#2039952
In response to Verne_Frantz
I always tune mine by sound and feel. Advance it until you get ping and then back off a just little bit... 
Never loan your car or your woman. Someone is bound to throw a rod in one of them.
1963 Impala SS 327 4 spd. Link |
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doubleE
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3935
Loc: Eagan MN
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01-31-11 05:22 PM - Post#2040223
In response to Verne_Frantz
Eric, Don't you mean, "increase the "advance""???
Verne
Yes, that's what I ment. Boy it sucks getting old 
| Proud owner of
My Blue 62
Impala SS |
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mcgowaw
Contributor
Posts: 416
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10-17-12 04:09 PM - Post#2280646
In response to doubleE
please don't be mad for dredging up an older thread but it came up in my search on the site for how to set the timing on my 63 impala, 327/4bbl/300hp car and i need to know what the heck the A and O mean on the timing mark plate (or whatever you call it).
my flywheel mark is about 2 inches above the top of the plate so i'm assuming its too advanced but until i figure out which mark on the plate i need to head for, it doesn't do me much good to know that. it's also got a cam and a msd coil and disto but not the high powered msd spark unit.
thanks for any help.
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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 DonSSDD
Silver Supporting Member
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10-17-12 05:12 PM - Post#2280669
In response to mcgowaw
A is for advance, 0 is the zero point, each mark is 2 degrees advance.
Don
63 Pontiac Parisienne Sport Coupe(CDN Chev mechanically (409, 4 speed),1998 Silverado Reg Cab 4WD, 62 Bel Air SC (sold), 59 El Camino (sold), 62 Bel Air SC(sold), 63 SWC Vette (sold),
Member #2194
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mcgowaw
Contributor
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10-17-12 05:21 PM - Post#2280672
In response to DonSSDD
thanks much don.
do, it looks like i'm supposed to be at 8 degrees tdc, and i don't have a picture of the timing marker to post but would that be like 4 marks above the o mark then, going towards the hood?
tks
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
Edited by mcgowaw on 10-17-12 05:23 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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models916
Valued Contributor
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Loc: Addison, IL
Reg: 05-28-10
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10-18-12 05:07 AM - Post#2280754
In response to mcgowaw
Timing marks on dampers after 1968 moved 10 degrees. If you set it and it runs like crap, could be the damper was replaced with a later model. Could cut the original tab off the timing cover and use a new bolt on if that's the case.
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junky
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4113
Loc: Northeast CT
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10-18-12 05:32 AM - Post#2280758
In response to models916
I would use a timing light that has an advance knob and set it with that. Start by setting the distributor rotor under number one spark plug terminal, with the number 1 piston at at the top of the travel. This will be 0 degrees. Start the car, and see where the damper timing mark is on the timing mark plate. Mark this with a crayon as zero. Then advance the distributor till the timing mark is at the next line, and tighten distributor locking clamp. Turn the knob on the timing light till the mark goes back to zero, and note what it says on the timing light knob marks. This will tell you how many degrees each line represents. From there, you should be able to get it to where you want it to be. Hope that these instructions are clear to you.
Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, then beat you with experience.
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mcgowaw
Contributor
Posts: 416
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10-18-12 06:51 AM - Post#2280777
In response to junky
thanks everyone for your help. i think i figured out at least part of what i was doing wrong. i didn't unhook the disto advance and plug the carb hole first. i'll try that and see if that brings the timing down a few degrees and go from there. it's been a while since i did this on my old 53 gmc truck that i used to have so i forgot about this step.
tks
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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Verne_Frantz
DECEASED - Member #574 "61-64 Subject Matter Expert"
Posts: 5890
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10-18-12 01:00 PM - Post#2280866
In response to models916
Timing marks on dampers after 1968 moved 10 degrees. If you set it and it runs like crap, could be the damper was replaced with a later model. Could cut the original tab off the timing cover and use a new bolt on if that's the case.
Tony, There's an easier way. First, to determine if you have the right balancer, just check to see if the groove on the outer rim is in line with the keyway in the hub on the crank. If it is, then it's correct; if not, then it's the later balancer, in which case just cut another slot in the outer rim at TDC on #1 in line with the zero on the tab.
Verne
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mcgowaw
Contributor
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10-18-12 04:24 PM - Post#2280933
In response to Verne_Frantz
thanks for that verne. i'll check. i did just finish plugging the carb vacuum hole and setting it to 8degrees advance (4 marks above 0) and it ran ok but it felt like it lost 100 horsepower when i took it for a test drive so i put it back to what i'd estimate is about 30 degrees advanced. i'm guessing because the mark goes about 2 inches above the top of the guide. i'll check this last note out and see what happens..
tks
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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mcgowaw
Contributor
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10-18-12 06:17 PM - Post#2280972
In response to mcgowaw
not sure why i can't edit my previous but anyway, i checked the balancer and can't see the key at all. it must be recessed inside an inch or more, so does that mean it's the later model?
if so, i'll have to reread the post to see how to find the new 0 mark.
tks
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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mcgowaw
Contributor
Posts: 416
Age: 69
Loc: SoCal
Reg: 08-07-12
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11-07-12 12:33 PM - Post#2286958
In response to Verne_Frantz
verne, i finally was able to get my finger inside the pulley to find the key slot and it does appear to be inline with the white mark/slot in the damper and with the engine hot and carb manifold vacuum intake plugged, using a plain old timing light, the timing mark is up at almost the top of the engine. it'd estimate its about 40 degrees advanced but will try to find a way to get a more exact measurement. do i just leave it set where it runs ok and let it go?
any and all comments welcomed by the way.
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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Sweed62
Senior Member
Posts: 1143
Loc: NotUS.Language warning#1
Reg: 10-24-04
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11-07-12 02:13 PM - Post#2286994
In response to mcgowaw
Ehhh,
"-using a plain old timing light" + "it'd estimate its about 40 degrees advanced"
Makes me believe your light is of the kind thats activated by point gap action, and that your reading a point gap action for another cylinder, than Nr 1.
Are the cables at distributor cap shifted one step?
I think nr 1 rotor position is marked at distributor edge at cap.
Svenne
Than, sorry, i forgot you got an msd-unit, i dont know how it works.
Edited by Sweed62 on 11-07-12 02:17 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mcgowaw
Contributor
Posts: 416
Age: 69
Loc: SoCal
Reg: 08-07-12
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11-07-12 07:46 PM - Post#2287106
In response to Sweed62
sweed, just put the light on all 8 wires and the #1 wire is the closest. the others i can't see the timing mark at all. i've verified the keyway is in line with the timing mark (or it could be a few degrees off but not 25 or 30 degrees for sure), so the damper hasn't slipped. any other ideas? i'm all ears as i'm sure i should be able to slip a bit more power out of this girl but doing it by ear doesn't seem to be doing the trick. guess my ear isn't trained that well.
thanks for any other suggestions or recommendations.
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
Edited by mcgowaw on 11-07-12 07:47 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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models916
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4785
Age: 73
Loc: Addison, IL
Reg: 05-28-10
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11-08-12 08:05 AM - Post#2287232
In response to mcgowaw
MSD units are known to cause problems with timing lights at low RPM. Mine only works to set the total timing when the RPM is up and the the box has stopped doing the multiple sprark thing.
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mcgowaw
Contributor
Posts: 416
Age: 69
Loc: SoCal
Reg: 08-07-12
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11-08-12 08:08 AM - Post#2287233
In response to models916
models, i don't have the spark box, just the disto and coil setup.
i'm hoping using timing tape will help me dial this thing in better. at least i'll know what the timing is without guessing at it, even though it will be very high. then i can use that number to try to advance a degree or two and see if i can improve performance.
thanks much
tony
| 'tony',1963, 327, SS, hump heads, 4speed, 4bbl, Keystone Mag Wheels. |
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Sweed62
Senior Member
Posts: 1143
Loc: NotUS.Language warning#1
Reg: 10-24-04
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11-09-12 12:15 PM - Post#2287629
In response to mcgowaw
Im out of ideas, maybe MSD have an idea.
I would do a performance check like: start at pretty good performance and idling, then 2 dgr earlier ignition, and if worse, then 2 more dgr earlier to pin down what side of best performance i am. Then a 2 dgr. step to later ignite, until she loose performance, then earlier by 1 dgr etc.
Make sure you do this performance check under similar circumstanses, like weather conditions, i allways found cars running much better at misty nights, but i could be wrong.
Svenne
Edited by Sweed62 on 11-09-12 12:16 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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FREDFIFTY
Poster
Posts: 88
Loc: The Peninsula
Reg: 12-08-22
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01-08-25 01:10 PM - Post#2876898
In response to models916
question. i get pinging on the highway and my car would die out while driving. i need to adjust timing. so i loosen hold down bolt, disconnect vacuum and do i adjust cw or ccw? thnx
62 Impala Rag
92 5.0 Coupe |
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Shepherd
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3656
Loc: Lake George, NY
Reg: 11-11-15
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01-08-25 05:11 PM - Post#2876901
In response to FREDFIFTY
First, what is your base timing now? The timing is not causing the engine to "die", something else is wrong.
Edited by Shepherd on 01-08-25 05:12 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 BelAirBub
"5th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 243
Reg: 06-18-18
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01-09-25 08:05 AM - Post#2876922
In response to PK
Even she knows the answer to this question!
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FREDFIFTY
Poster
Posts: 88
Loc: The Peninsula
Reg: 12-08-22
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01-10-25 10:29 AM - Post#2876943
In response to Shepherd
i did take the dizzy out and i believe we half assed setting the timing...so im gonna have to check it. looks to be 4 degrees so ill try that. its a stock motor. as far as checking/adjusting timing..car needs to be warmed up as well iirc? thanks
62 Impala Rag
92 5.0 Coupe |
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Shepherd
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3656
Loc: Lake George, NY
Reg: 11-11-15
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01-10-25 11:03 AM - Post#2876945
In response to FREDFIFTY
choke fast idle needs to be off, vac hose off and plugged. Use a white marking pen on the balancer, makes it easier to see the mark.
Edited by Shepherd on 01-10-25 11:24 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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japete92
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2354
Loc: No. Virginia
Reg: 01-18-13
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01-10-25 01:51 PM - Post#2876951
In response to FREDFIFTY
i did take the dizzy out and i believe we half assed setting the timing...so im gonna have to check it. looks to be 4 degrees so ill try that. its a stock motor. as far as checking/adjusting timing..car needs to be warmed up as well iirc? thanks
Because you removed the distributor, and you do not sound very confident regarding its re-installation, I recommend you verify TDC and the timing marks.
Pete
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Shepherd
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3656
Loc: Lake George, NY
Reg: 11-11-15
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 01-10-25 02:53 PM - Post#2876953
In response to japete92
Agreed
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