Setting timing correctly and adj Dist. Simple way..

[treihesse]

Ok I have a 1975 Bronco I have had some issues with the truck since I bought it. THe truck sat for a year 1st off. Things I have done.

1. rebuilt 1406 card
2. timed by sound
3. new plugs
4. wires
5. cap rotor

The truck starts and Idles sweet right now. It runs ok. I have not re timed it after I jetted the carb. When I re start I get the hard start noise. When I changed the timing it starts and Idles fine but wont run at all. Should I try and re-time it now that its jetted correct? DO I need to re-curve the dist.? HELP HELP

 

[broncnaz]

Retime it. quick easy way that works for me is warm the engine up then rev it to about 3000 RPM and hold it there then turn the dist until you find where it runs the smoothest. Then tighten the dist down and see if its starts and idles. keep in mind that messing with the timing usually requires you to readjust the idle mixture screws.
Yes I would recurve the dist it will help overall performance.

 

[treihesse]

How do you re curve a stock one??

 

[Jeepster]

I like to use a vacuum gauge when timing. Turn the dizzy till you get the highest reading,readjust rpm,repeat,repeat, then slightly back the dizzy off a touch.

 

[broncnaz]

I basically hit upon the recurve process in your other post. I haven never gotten good results trying to set the timing to the highest vacuum reading on any of my engines but then again you want the highest steady reading you can get which is not always the highest vacuum reading.

 

[treihesse]

this is a stupid Question but would the incorrect jets have that much effect on the over timing and engine running good. How did the previous owner run the truck up here with that wrong of jets. I went down two the stage 3 lean jets. It has sea level stage 1 in it

 

[Bronchopper]

another method that works for me is to use my dial back timing light. vac advance plugged of course. rev the engine till the timing stops advancing. then set your total advance about 36* that is a good starting point. some engines will like more or less depending on heads, cam etc. once you have done that, let it idle and see where your base timing falls. if it is really low, you might have to re-curve the dist. it is really easy if you run a MSD, not as easy with the stock dizzy. if you don't have a dial back timing light, you can get a timing tape for your ballancer that will tell you where you are at. once you have done that. hook up the vac advance again, and you should be ok. be sure you rev it up enough that you are sure it is at it's full advance.

 

[broncnaz]

A whole lot of people just bolt stuff on and as long as it runs its good they are satisfied. carbs that are setup to rich still run just not like they should. Most people dont bother tuning there carb even stock carbs can benifit from tuning. This is why many people tend to say something is junk or its good as some carbs are just a little more out of the box good than others.
Jetting has little effect on timing its really the otherway around as timing can have a effect on jetting needs. This is not to say that jetting doesnt have a effect on timing as lean jetting can cause you to back the timing off to get it to stop ping thus hurting performance same can go for rich jetting whick will allow more timing but incomplete fuel burning so still max power is not achieved.