stonemonk9

Hey, my girlfriend bought me a timing adjuster for X-mas! So I installed it and first i set it 5+ and noticed alil bit more power in the higher rpm, then i decided to -5 and noticed that i could brake the tires loss everytime time shifting into second but it didnt seem to have as much power at higher rpms, where do you guys think i should set it?

Cedarkill

retarding the timing should only hurt performance all around. the idea is to advance the timing, but be careful not to go too far with it, as you could cause serious damage. Considering you have the PI heads and upped compression, I'd say stay around 14* which is 4* advanced over stock...

stonemonk9

not necesarily, ive heard that some engines acctually benefit from it, it seems to back fire more at higher degrees also

Dan04COBRA

Your engine won't benefit with retarded timing guy.

Cedarkill

maybe if you're running a super charger or a high dose of nitrous, you may have to retard the timing, so if that's what you mean by some engines benefit from it...but in your situation, retarding stock timing is kind of like taking a small step backwards. So, yea, I'd say advance it a few degrees, stay around or below 14* and run 93 octane and you should be good to go. When setting the advance, make sure the car runs good, no pinging or mis-firing at any rpm, which could cause some serious damage. When advancing the timing, combustion heat increases which is why you need to start running higher octane fuel. If by backfiring you mean misfiring or running rough, that's not good. That means you're too far advanced for the octane you're running. Most PI cars stay around 14* on 93 octane...

stonemonk9

Well I have to run the premium octane due to the raised compression, it doesnt idle rough or pings and its always had a slight miss, but it backfires more than ussually when comin down from higher rpms. I thought that if you retarded it there would be more torque and more hp if advanced, maybe im mixing up cam timing???

Cedarkill

yea, maybe, I don't really know anything about cams...I have a timing adjuster on my car, so I've had a little experience with screwing around with timing and have talked to some people about it, but never messed with cams. All I know is that they're a long stick with lobes, hahaha.

stonemonk9

lol, ya, well ill set it to 14 see how it runs and hopefully thatll be good.