60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

[Wayne G.]

I see the timing tab is marked with the 0 and the A, my question is a simple one, Is BTDC above the 0, so I set my timing there? 12-18 degrees

Looking at front of motor left of mark... tops side... = btdc
Its a stock damper and tab never removed.

I see some timing tapes that have only 0-10 to the left of 0 and 0-50-60 to the right of it. This has confused me as I watched a video by MDS explian that BTDC would be on the 0-50-60 side? they were setting initial to the right of 0 at 12?

Is the older timing tabs different?

Sort of find it strange that they say 18 initial and really no pointer on the tab for that? Is she the very last top one... Just want to be sure here... I want to add a tap so I can set total time with the distoro (65 dual point and found it should be have 24 degress of weight advance so with 18 initial that seems off a bit... 34-38 should be max... and I want to try it at 4500 as books say and lower to see what she runs like... right now I can say that 12 vs 18 is 100% better all around... I have a Snap on Advanced light but have heard and read they are not as good as a regular light and the tape setup... its don't have to be super perfect here but just want to get a baseline on it, now that I redid the points and all the balast and wires and plugs...

Advanced = BTDC retarded = ADTC? I am hunting for my darn old school chevy book I know explains its...
.

[John H.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

I see the timing tab is marked with the 0 and the A, my question is a simple one, Is BTDC above the 0, so I set my timing there?

Wayne -

See photo below. The markings above the "0" are Advance ("A"), and those below the "0" are Retard ("R"). Each mark is 2 degrees.

[Wayne G.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

Wayne -

See photo below. The markings above the "0" are Advance ("A"), and those below the "0" are Retard ("R"). Each mark is 2 degrees.

Yes so far so good...

So
Retard and BeforeTDC is the same?

Advanced and AfterTDC is the same?

[John H.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

Yes so far so good...

So
Retard and BeforeTDC is the same?

Advanced and AfterTDC is the same?

Wayne -

Nope. Before TDC (BTDC) is advanced, after TDC (ATDC) is retarded.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

Wayne,

One other thing to add to John's post is that if you want to set total WOT timing bring the damper to the 0 mark then mark 12 BTDC on the damper then bring that mark to 0 two more times and mark to get 36* on the damper.

You don't need tape at this point, start the motor and time the 36* damper mark to the 0 mark on the cover. Do this after removing the springs that hold the weights inside the distributor so you only need to free rev the motor to about 1500 as the centrifugal advance will be full in. That's it, now you have power timed the engine and the inital advance will fall where it's supposed to but you will know the total WOT centrifugal advance is 36*.

If you decide to change the inital settings for more inital advance you will need a distributor machine to limit the centrifugal about the same amount. I don't know the specs for your engine but I bet it's not 18* allthough the engine would run much cooler and more responsive with that timing but there may be a slow crank on hot restart.

Vacuum advance is good here because the engine can be timed for about 12* inital with additional 15* V/A which will give 27+- total idle timing.

[Wayne G.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

Wayne -

Nope. Before TDC (BTDC) is advanced, after TDC (ATDC) is retarded.

Yeah sort of what I was thinking, don't know why the MDS tape video on Summit shows them setting the timing at 12 and its below the mark or wait when I add the tape to the damper I will be using the zero line and the 12 on the tape so that would be the below markings on the tape... Err I think I got it figured out Yes/No ?

[Wayne G.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

Wayne,

One other thing to add to John's post is that if you want to set total WOT timing bring the damper to the 0 mark then mark 12 BTDC on the damper then bring that mark to 0 two more times and mark to get 36* on the damper.

You don't need tape at this point, start the motor and time the 36* damper mark to the 0 mark on the cover. Do this after removing the springs that hold the weights inside the distributor so you only need to free rev the motor to about 1500 as the centrifugal advance will be full in. That's it, now you have power timed the engine and the inital advance will fall where it's supposed to but you will know the total WOT centrifugal advance is 36*.

If you decide to change the inital settings for more inital advance you will need a distributor machine to limit the centrifugal about the same amount. I don't know the specs for your engine but I bet it's not 18* allthough the engine would run much cooler and more responsive with that timing but there may be a slow crank on hot restart.

Vacuum advance is good here because the engine can be timed for about 12* inital with additional 15* V/A which will give 27+- total idle timing.

Wow thats a real simple tip - GREAT! and Thanks!

Inititial is 18* on a 290hp FI car per the spec sheets I have seen, it actually starts real easy and even when hot... I would think at 11.1 compression too it would be hard but not at all... fires right up and in other post like I have said I can get this darn thing to ilde at 390 rpm or so, its so funny almost sounds like someone is turning it over by hand...

I had it at 12 for some time... what I don't know and have not looked at are specs yet for the factory distro and curve it may have had on the FI distro, I have one from a 65 and know it is 24 add, yeah a vaccum probably would really help on this car, I know if ya really get on it... it gets about 8-9 mile to a gallon.... not sure how much a recurve would help but the vacuum should help some... It don't get driven much so not a real big deal...even a newer carb would probably help gas milage, but no biggy...

Not sure but I have read alott on setting the total at 4500rpm not sure if that is becuase of the ramps on the weights or not, I have read were total time can be set at 1500 also I want to try both and see how it runs... Alls I can say is at 12-18* its not a issue really, the dang thing keeps pulling strong at 120mph in 4th gear.... I am just trying to baseling everything and right it down on how things should be set best for next time round, she was not driver for about 10 years just started and moved a little in the garage. And over the years one forgets what was changed and adjusted how, so its time to make a file and get it all printed and laminated so down the road I have it all handy.

[Wayne G.]

Re: 60 Fuelie 290hp timing tab mark questions

All - Just a well do THANK YOU! You guys know your sht !

I set it for 36 as suggested with no springs at 1500rpm, set the base and seen that would be 12 on the regular tab, redid the idle to 450 one more time and re adjusted the carb float and also the air bleeds to max vacuum, set the points at 450 idle to 34dwell, checked for any dizzy play, all good to 6500rpm only went to 34.7 dwell... Tried the base time at 10 12 and 14 and seems 12 is the best. What a difference... 18 was just a little to much, no break up, no more hesitation at all... and the loppy great sounding idle is back... its just so nice to have a low idle and hit the gas and it just goes without hesitation, bog or miss...

Again real great advice and tips... Now off to do the steering bushing and finish up the suspension detailing, hook up the tach, and fix the speedo cable that is sticking and vroom vroom maybe a road trip to Carsilse this year... just need a set of tires and some stitch work on the vinyl top.

Anyone recommend a modern set of plugs... I have tons ( and I mean tons! ) of AC originals all sizes and types. Would rather save those... I think right now she's running 44's not sure what ones if radio or not... but I redid the plug wires to non original so they (best of my knowledge) are not copper wire as originals were? Just a cheap set of Napa all black plugs that fit perfectly in the looms... Also if a newer plug what gap still 34?

I stil have to change out the ballast as I really think I am frying the points, I think I will just get a NAPA hd set and ballast and run those for now... Have a few orignals in the foil packs but I think best to save also..?