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Cam and timing setting

M

mmw68

Member
Hey Guys,

I've been reading up on cams/timing, and where I should set mine, and I've just confused my self. Just to refresh your memory:

DSS Ford 306 Roller block
GT40 heads
Comp cam - 35-324-8.
Summit 600 CFM carb.
MSD 6al with matching Dizzy

This cam is rated at 218 intake 224 Exhaust. 270 lift.

So Iam starting at 10-12 degrees with the timing, but It's just not running correctly, I hear pinging, and loss of power over 2K RPM.

I've also read that maybe I should back the timing back to as low as 6-10? I have checked the Dizzy, and TDC - and did realize I was off a tooth, that helped a lot.

Any advice?


But I did find this article which was very informative:
http://www.carbdford.com/viewtopic.php?t=5543
 
Robert,
I took your advice and now the timing is set at around 7 at idle, and 35ish at 3000 rpms.
I also drained the tank of the little gas that had been sitting up all summer, and but in a fresh 5 gallons of 93 octane gas.

The car drove ok, and I was able to cruiser around the neiborhood, I think Iam 75% there, just need some more tuning.

Thanks - Mark
 
You really want to dial it in, spend a little time on a dyno. My buddy and I spent a few hours tuning my 289 a few years ago. We changed timing and jets until we found the perfect middle. Ended up the car ran best with a total timing of 30 degrees.
 
I thought I would give you guys a update, so that some one might benefit from my stupidity! :bowdown

After chasing down what I thought was all the possible problems, - old gas, dizzy stabbed wrong, wiring, MSD, ect, ect ect.... and having several car experts double check my work, I decided to give Jermia over at Brass Tack Customs. (Iam now going to give him a shameless plug.)

Jermia was a partner at mustangprojects.com (the LED light guy) and has decided to spilt from the retail side of the business and just focus on muscle car restorations in the Austin Area.

He says - "Please be here at 9am sharp, and the first thing I want to do is pull #1 plug, get TDC and set your timing for myself."

The first thing he does is look at the balancer, and notices the three separate groups of markings. It's a summit universal unit.
balancer.jpg


Jermia - "Which one did you use?" (Something none of the other experts had asked.)
Me - "Why the front marking" I say.
Jermia - "lets try the rear markings"

After a few minutes he sets the timing and does a quick adjustment of the carb.... I take it for a test drive. Great power at launch, burn a little rubber, I then proceed to head towards the free way and open her up. The power was amazing, and even with the Stock 8" inch 2:90ish gears, and the T-5 I had plenty of power and decided to back it off when I realized I was going 90 MPH.

Back to the shop:

Me - "It drove great"
Jermia - "I think we can do better"
Me - "uh, ok, but I might kill myself with any more power"
Jermia " Evil laugh"

He then proceeds to do some more tweaking.. and sends me off into the sunset.

final.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"mmw68" said:
I thought I would give you guys a update, so that some one might benefit from my stupidity! :bowdown

After chasing down what I thought was all the possible problems, - old gas, dizzy stabbed wrong, wiring, MSD, ect, ect ect.... and having several car experts double check my work, I decided to give Jermia over at Brass Tack Customs. (Iam now going to give him a shameless plug.)

Jermia was a partner at mustangprojects.com (the LED light guy) and has decided to spilt from the retail side of the business and just focus on muscle car restorations in the Austin Area.

He says - "Please be here at 9am sharp, and the first thing I want to do is pull #1 plug, get TDC and set your timing for myself."

The first thing he does is look at the balancer, and notices the three separate groups of markings. It's a summit universal unit.
balancer.jpg


Jermia - "Which one did you use?" (Something none of the other experts had asked.)
Me - "Why the front marking" I say.
Jermia - "lets try the rear markings"

After a few minutes he sets the timing and does a quick adjustment of the carb.... I take it for a test drive. Great power at launch, burn a little rubber, I then proceed to head towards the free way and open her up. The power was amazing, and even with the Stock 8" inch 2:90ish gears, and the T-5 I had plenty of power and decided to back it off when I realized I was going 90 MPH.

Back to the shop:

Me - "It drove great"
Jermia - "I think we can do better"
Me - "uh, ok, but I might kill myself with any more power"
Jermia " Evil laugh"

He then proceeds to do some more tweaking.. and sends me off into the sunset.

final.jpg
Click to expand...
Congratulations on getting it worked out.

Kudos to you for sharing and exposing your mistake as it will certainly help someone one day.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Can any one shed some light on why I used the rear markings? The pointer clearly was centered up with the front marking? If this Harmonic balancer had not already been given to me, I would had bought a ford racing balancer, but oh wel... it was free.
 
To much liquid refreshments.......lol

I always check the timing by pulling a plug when ever there seems to be an issue with the running of a car.

Glad you got it running so good now.
 
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