Cascade Crew

82camaro383 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: Engine Timing

Does anyone know where the correct timing should be for a 383 stroker? Right now i have the timing set at 14 degress after top dead center. I got the engine running last week so i'm trying get everything adjusted.

Thanks, Tim

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject:

each motor will be diffrent, you have to give it want it wants.

Is this carbed? TPI? mechanical dizzy? or computer controlled? we need many more details.

82camaro383 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject:

its carburated, next week i putting a 750cfm on it

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject:

do you have more information on the dizzy?

The ammount of timing being added by the dizzy, will mostly determine where you initial advance needs to be set.

I am sure Brandon, or someone who deals with this more than myself, will jump in with some tuning advice for this.

chevymad · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

You really want to set timing by the total timing method. Not by checking initial. Total timing without vacuum advance will be anywhere from 30* to 40* depending mainly on what type of cylinder heads and compression you have. Vortec/fastburn type heads need less timing then old school stock heads. Less compression needs more advance then high compression. You'll need either a dial back timing light or a timing tape to do this. Then rev the motor to 2500 or so and check total timing with the vacuum advance disconnected. Adjust it to say 35.. then try it. Try going back and forth till you find the optimal advance. After that you can check what the initial timing is and use that to set it from now on.

If you have a big cam plugging the vacuum advance into manifold vacuum instead of ported vacuum will give you a better/smoother idle.

After doing this there are alot more things you can do, but all will require testing. You can change springs so that the advance works faster or slower, or even come in in 2 different steps. You can change weights which can effect the shape of the advance curve. And you can limit the amount of advance so you can apply more initial timing while still coming in at the proper total to get a better idle. Lots and lots of experimenting you can do.

iansane · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject:

Brandon, I wish I knew as much as you've probably forgotten.

chevymad · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks, but I find my head so full of this stuff that at times I can't remember my name. I did a search awhile back on timing curves found some interesting links. Only one I can find now is a mallory specific pdf file. For fine adjustments you'll need to search for whatever type of distributor you are using.