The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 350 Timing

I am just now getting around to checking out this near worn out, completely stock 1972 350 that is in my 55 2nd. The engine cranks and runs great but it leaks and smokes some. I am concerned about the timing. Initial is 15 degrees, Mechanical runs up to 36 degrees, and with the vacuum advance, total of 50 degrees. Now I know this sounds too high, but it runs good. Is there serious harm from these settings? It does not ping. Should initial be lowered to 10 degrees? Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Hugh

Sounds like it is just right. If it doesn't kick back when starting & doen't ping i'd leave it alone. If it was an engine in real good shape with stock cam I'd say 36 is a little high, more like 34, but you know the timing chain is stretched makeing the cam timing slow.

Sounds good to me. We run the race engines at 37 degrees at 2500 RPM, initial and centrifugal, with no vacuum advance. 50 degrees total advance is just a bit high, but not enough to get concerned about, as most of the vacuum advance goes away as soon as a little load goes on the engine, uphill, passing, etc. It's mostly a light-throttle cruise thing for better gas mileage.
Jerry

6-8 deg BTDC with vac hose plugged at dist. end

Thanks for the input. I will just leave it as it is. Who knows how long it has been that way.

Thanks,
Hugh

I have always read that you advance until it pings on acceleration and then back it off a hair until it goes away. Sounds like that's about where you're at. I'd leave it.

Hook up a vacuum gauge, and adjust timing for highest vacuum, then back timing off just a bit.

Jim;
If you have a timing light available, how much is "just a bit"?

EDIT: Let me rephrase that to "if I have a timing light" I'm not asking you to measure it, just looking for an estimate of how many degrees.

From my experience, with stock cam and advance characteristics if the static timing is advanced more than 4 deg from factory spec you may get more pep at light load acceleration, slight milage improvement, less smooth idle, less power and rpm at high throttle opening/max revs.
I would limit the extra static advance to 4-6 deg.Most of these engines used 4 deg static so it sounds like you are advanced by 11.Back it up to original specs and try it you may be pleasantly surprised.

Back off 2-5 degrees is what I do

On a series of chassis dyno tests of the family race car back in the mid-1950's, we found that once maximum HP was reached by advancing the timing, one degree more timing killed as much power as retarding the timing 4 to 5 degrees. If you're unsure of where the max power point is, less is always preferred to more advance! We've observed the same basic trend on alcohol-fueled flathead Ford engines, NASCAR-specification small block Chevvies, Big-block Chrysler tractor pull engines, and various bone-stock street machines. Too much timing advance destroys horsepower and engine parts!
Jerry