how can i clean my nasty old harmonic balancer so i can read it i cant see the marks for s#%@ and i scrubbed the heck out of it. any secrets that will help? also if i run it at 12 digrees will i have to use premium gas cause that stuff is a grip.

 

CLR is pretty good at getting rid of rust. Another trick is to spray it with white paint then scuff off the paint. Paint will stay in the groove where your mark is.

 

thats what i did is painted the mark i wanted to set it at

 

assuming you have an '89 Stang, you will probably have to use premium gas if you run the timing at 12 degrees. the late 80's Stangs required premium gas even at the stock setting of 10 degrees if I remember correctly.

 

how much timing should i run in my 92 using 87 octane?

 

Stock was 10 deg.

 

If you want to clean the rust off your balancer just start the car and while its runnin hold a wire brush on the balancer. It will look like new when your done

 

only run the timing as high as you can without detonation occuring, no matter what the octane of the gas. lower it if necessary until it does not detonate (ping) when under a load.