timing marks

I have timing marks on my harmonic balancer and was going to mark what its supposed to be timed at. I was wondering if anyone here knows?. I got a motors manual from 1972 and it says 4 degrees before top dead center. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks Jeff.

timing depends on application but 8-12 degrees at idle and 30-32 at 3000rpm is a good place to start

Well it sounds like you have a stock distributor with vacuum advance and also centrifugal advance. So, with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged, you need to take the engine upstairs in terms of rpm and have your centrifugal advance "all in". Then put your timing light on and shoot for total timing of around 34*-36* or so BTDC (before top dead center).

The varibles as to how much timing the engine likes are things like compression ratio, the cylinder head chamber design, low octane or high octane gas, engine operating temperature and so on. Go test drive it and get a seat of the pants feel as to how much timing it likes. IF the engine is pinging or knocking, back off the timing.

Hope this helps,
Charlie

cooter wrote:timing depends on application but 8-12 degrees at idle and 30-32 at 3000rpm is a good place to start

I never really timed a engine before is it hard to do?. my dads 1972 motors manual says its supposed to be a 4 before top dead center.

timing is easy to do, can you tell us some stats on your motor and ignition? 4 degrees will be fine for grampas car but thats not enough for anything else

I actually don't know much about the engine. All i know is it has lower compression heads d3ve a2a heads beefier cam different intake and carb. Also has a accel super coil on it and stock distributer don't know if that helps at all.