The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop setting ignition timming

Gentlemen, I read a thread here on setting ignition timming resently , but know I cant find it. Would some one please go over this again. I have allways set it by ear , or sometimes with a light , but for a long time I had my vac. advance disconected. Know I want to go back the way chevy did it origanally. Its a 1957 235 pick up motor. Thanks

Just line the needle up with the ball on the flywheel (use the peep hole above the starter). Make sure the 235 is at idle. You shouldn't have any vacuum advance at idle with the correct carb. You don't need to worry about plugging any lines. If you live somewhere where it is on the cool side and you can get high octane gas you can advance the timing a little to get more power but back it off if it pings.

Most of the mechanics from that era used a vacuum gauge. I used it on mine, then checked with a timing light and it was dead on.

Thanks, that's is pretty much what I remember reeding, but it said to plug vacume advance line. I supose that little bb in fly wheel must already have the corect advance in it. If I were to use a vacume gauge, would I set the timming to its highest vacume reading, or is a certain amount of vacume required to set timming? Thanks again

don,

I have always set the timing to the timing mark (disconnect/plug the vacuum advance line as you state). I then set the carburetor by setting the idle speed to the desired rpm and then adjust the mixture screw at the maximum vacuum reading.

Sequence of tune-up operations:

1. Set points (if new, put in new condensor)
2. Set timing (after turning in the distributor lubricant "cup")
3. Set carburetor
- set idle speed
- set mixture to maximum vacuum (connect to wiper vacuum line)
- recheck idle speed
- recheck mixture
4. Recheck timing
5. Reconnect vacuum advance line
6. Cruise for burgers

This might seem redundant but it works.

Tim