Advanced Timing Once and For All

[GTP]

Spent a bit of time searching and reading...got a few questions on setting and advancing timing.

We all know that we put a jumper in the ECU service plug and hook up the timing light to cylinder #1-check engine light stays on.

Now the big red mark is 15 degrees BTDC. Now which way do (I) we rotate the distributor to advance the timing to the mark above (looking from the front of the car) or below (from the front of the car) the big red 15 degree mark- I want to advance the timing two degrees. Therefore, do I loosen and rotate the distributor toward the fire wall and aline the timing marks to the one small notch "below" the big red 15degree mark (from the front of the car) or rotate the distributor towards the radiator and put the timing pointer on the small timing mark "above" the big red timing mark to get 2 degrees advanced timing?

Thanks!

[Flatline]

i don't remember off hand just loosen the bolts on the dizzy to hand tight and tap it lightly in either direction. you'll see it move.

[H22Artman]

Spent a bit of time searching and reading...got a few questions on setting and advancing timing.

We all know that we put a jumper in the ECU service plug and hook up the timing light to cylinder #1-check engine light stays on.

Now the big red mark is 15 degrees BTDC. Now which way do (I) we rotate the distributor to advance the timing to the mark above (looking from the front of the car) or below (from the front of the car) the big red 15 degree mark- I want to advance the timing two degrees. Therefore, do I loosen and rotate the distributor toward the fire wall and aline the timing marks to the one small notch "below" the big red 15degree mark (from the front of the car) or rotate the distributor towards the radiator and put the timing pointer on the small timing mark "above" the big red timing mark to get 2 degrees advanced timing?

Thanks!

mark above red is advanced. below is retarded.

if you have a timing light you will find out almost instantly which direction you need to rotate the dizz.

[GTP]

mark above red is advanced. below is retarded.

if you have a timing light you will find out almost instantly which direction you need to rotate the dizz.

How will it tell me which direction? It will tell me its moving but which direction to advance it? I found this...

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...t=timing+marks

and this
http://www.g2ic.com/tegtips/engine/7.html

and it says to rotate the distributor towards the firewall to advance timing which puts the timing at the notch below the big red 15 degree timing mark. so by rotating it towards the firewall its advancing it two degrees to the nothc below the big red one...?

[batever]

Rotate the dist. towards the firewall to advance the timing. This makes the dizzy rotor contact the cylinder one pole earlier in the camshaft rotation, thus sending the electricity to the plug at an earlier time relative to where the distributor would have sent the electricity before moving it.

[H22Artman]

How will it tell me which direction? It will tell me its moving but which direction to advance it? I found this...

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...t=timing+marks

and it says to rotate the distributor towards the firewall to advance timing which puts the timing at the notch below the big red 15 degree timing mark. so by rotating it towards the firewall its advancing it two degrees to the nothc below the big red one...?

sorry.
i got that backwards.

to advance timing (make detonation occur before OE spec). you want to rotate the dizzy toward the firewall so your lower mark is on the timing indicator.

to retard timing (make detonation occur later than OE spec). you would rotate the opposite direction so your upper mark would be lined up with the indicator.

[GTP]

Rotate the dist. towards the firewall to advance the timing. This makes the dizzy rotor contact the cylinder one pole earlier in the camshaft rotation, thus sending the electricity to the plug at an earlier time relative to where the distributor would have sent the electricity before moving it.

That's what I thought....I found contrary "suggestions" when I did a search and just went with logic. I rotated towards the firewall since the motor spins counter clockwise. Feels a lot better with 17 deg than 15. I like it !!

[GTP]

Thanks guys !!

[batever]

How will it tell me which direction? It will tell me its moving but which direction to advance it? I found this...

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...t=timing+marks

and this
http://www.g2ic.com/tegtips/engine/7.html

and it says to rotate the distributor towards the firewall to advance timing which puts the timing at the notch below the big red 15 degree timing mark. so by rotating it towards the firewall its advancing it two degrees to the nothc below the big red one...?

keep in mind that the flywheel is rotating counterclockwise so the marks on it are moving "down" while the engine is running.

So, as per my earlier post, when you rotate the dizzy towards the firewall the electricity gets sent sooner, so the timing light lights up sooner and lights up *before* the red 15 deg BTDC has reached the pointer in the bellhousing. This causes the "shift" in the 15 deg BTDC mark's position, causing it to appear as if it is above the pointer. If you advance the dist by exactly 2 degrees, the light will fire 2 deg btdc and light up the lower (+2 degrees BTDC) mark right as it is just even with the pointer. And the 15 deg BTDC mark will be slightly above the pointer of course.

Maybe not so clearly written, but I hope that helps you understand.

[GTP]

keep in mind that the flywheel is rotating counterclockwise so the marks on it are moving "down" while the engine is running.

So, as per my earlier post, when you rotate the dizzy towards the firewall the electricity gets sent sooner, so the timing light lights up sooner and lights up *before* the red 15 deg BTDC has reached the pointer in the bellhousing. This causes the "shift" in the 15 deg BTDC mark's position, causing it to appear as if it is above the pointer. If you advance the dist by exactly 2 degrees, the light will fire 2 deg btdc and light up the lower (+2 degrees BTDC) mark right as it is just even with the pointer. And the 15 deg BTDC mark will be slightly above the pointer of course.

Maybe not so clearly written, but I hope that helps you understand.

Yep...I got it... I went towards the firewall...ignition sooner in the compression stroke rather than later.

[Accrdwgnguy]

Have you used a timing light before? As you are adjusting the timing, the marks will appear to move on the flywheel (or crank pulley, depends on the setup). I have learned this by setting timing on my old chevy, of course its simpler by having one timing mark and a tab with several pointers and the degrees of advancement marked on it.

[GTP]

Have you used a timing light before? As you are adjusting the timing, the marks will appear to move on the flywheel (or crank pulley, depends on the setup). I have learned this by setting timing on my old chevy, of course its simpler by having one timing mark and a tab with several pointers and the degrees of advancement marked on it.

Of course I have...but you need to know which WAY to move the distributor to advance to retard the timing. That's all I was asking.

[HondaFan81]

Wow, GTP actually asked the question properly with all the information and only one person actually answered the question accurately and properly (batever).

People really need to learn how to read more/understand and talk nonsense less.