Im wondering if the car will run rich when I advanced the timing. I seem to smell gas, but maybe its just the chemicals and gas Im working around lol.

Does the idle change a bit? I noticed a little growl from my idle last night, but maybe its just cause I got on the gas pedal pretty heavily and let it breath. Dunno!

I have it set to 17* now. Someone said I should back it down to 14*. Said it will run better. Im still getting used to feeling the timing changes , but Ill try backing it down again I guess. It runs good now though, but I guess its the obsession of more power! Thats what we mechanics live for right? LOL Am I calling myself a mechanic? ! Whoah, lets not get ahead of ourselves, right? LOL

 

In theory advancing timing will make it run a tiny bit leaner, but not enough that the ECU can't compensate. All you are doing is changing WHEN the spark fires in the combustion cycle.

 

17* base timing is a lot of timing. back it down to 14. im surprised to dont have bad ping with 17

 

Carb'd cars can run rich at idle with too much base timing, if they're not adjusted to compensate. Are you carb or EFI?

 

what part of GA are you from OP?? im in Brunswick


i have my timing set @ 14 i have no ping i want to go higer as it increase MPG and low and mid range power, im assuming you have a 5spd car?

 

5 speed. wow, lol, one guy says 17* is too high (someone else also suggested I back it down, which I may do- experimenting still) , and another guy says go higher than 14* lol

The car does not ping at this degree!

Anyways, mine is a fuel inj car.

 

i've run run 17* with high octane and good spark. if it's not pinging you should be fine

 

just for a safe mind i would back it down to 14*, your only gining 2hp or so with the 17*

 

Just because it CAN run with a lot of timing and not detonate, doesn't mean it SHOULD. It can cause several problems, first being that it builds cylinder pressure too early and causes a loss of power, and secondly when that happens you get too much pressure too soon, and can overheat the piston crown and burn an engine up. Plus the higher pressures and temps can burn exhaust valves. It's going to depend on the engine/car setup, and what it wants, not just some arbitrary timing. And more is not always better.

 

id run like 14 man