Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
10-05-2007, 01:12 AM
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Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
Didn't get a reply in the general tech forum on this...
My question is this: How do you check and set the timing on the 82-83 carburetted ( computer controlled ) 2.8l V6 Camaro, it has a build date of 11/82, The official 83 Camaro GM manual (the HUGE red one) simply says to time it by the tag under the hood, my tag is unreadable!!
I just installed a new distributor, need to set the timing to stock and go smog the car and see if the new distributor fixed an issue I was having. this is a California car if that makes any difference.
Help, please!
and thanks in advance!
My question is this: How do you check and set the timing on the 82-83 carburetted ( computer controlled ) 2.8l V6 Camaro, it has a build date of 11/82, The official 83 Camaro GM manual (the HUGE red one) simply says to time it by the tag under the hood, my tag is unreadable!!
I just installed a new distributor, need to set the timing to stock and go smog the car and see if the new distributor fixed an issue I was having. this is a California car if that makes any difference.
Help, please!
and thanks in advance! 
10-05-2007, 08:04 AM
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Re: Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
Should be 10* BTDC.
To check, get a timing light. They're seriously amazing. A damn good one is only $40 at any parts store(they may also have it on loaner).
To set: set base timing by removing #1 spark plug. Put a piece of paper towel or something over the whole, and have someone hang on to it, covering the hole. Bump the start with the ignition until it blows the paper towel out. Then turn the crank by hand until #1 piston is at the very top. It blowing out means it's on the compression stroke instead of the exhaust stroke. Look under the dizzy cap and the rotor should be pointing at the #1 spark tower. If it's not, either your dizzy is off or you're not at TDC. If it is, great. Tighten down the cap. Then set spark advance using a timing light. The EST wire is on the passenger side firewall and is tan and black. Should be a connector sticking out of the wire loom. Follow the instructions for the timing light to set spark advance. Once that's set, tighten down the dizzy and you're done.
The other method to set spark advance is how my old school kinfolk do it... turn the spark advance BTDC until you et the highest idle, then back it down just a bit. I wouldn't recommend it, though.
To check, get a timing light. They're seriously amazing. A damn good one is only $40 at any parts store(they may also have it on loaner).
To set: set base timing by removing #1 spark plug. Put a piece of paper towel or something over the whole, and have someone hang on to it, covering the hole. Bump the start with the ignition until it blows the paper towel out. Then turn the crank by hand until #1 piston is at the very top. It blowing out means it's on the compression stroke instead of the exhaust stroke. Look under the dizzy cap and the rotor should be pointing at the #1 spark tower. If it's not, either your dizzy is off or you're not at TDC. If it is, great. Tighten down the cap. Then set spark advance using a timing light. The EST wire is on the passenger side firewall and is tan and black. Should be a connector sticking out of the wire loom. Follow the instructions for the timing light to set spark advance. Once that's set, tighten down the dizzy and you're done.
The other method to set spark advance is how my old school kinfolk do it... turn the spark advance BTDC until you et the highest idle, then back it down just a bit. I wouldn't recommend it, though.
Last edited by forkvoid; 10-05-2007 at 08:10 AM.
10-06-2007, 11:37 AM
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Car: 83' Pontiac Firebird
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Re: Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
Contrary to what everyone here says, there isn't a black/tan EST wire on 82-83 cars (don't know about 84). The manuals also fail to give specific instructions on this matter.
We have to unplug the 4wire connector at the base of the dizzy and then set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC.
It's kind of a bitch to get the connector unplugged/plugged, but doable.
And also, IIRC, it says on the smog-tag in the engine bay, that you're supposed to disconnect the EGR tube and plug it with something.
Don't do that myself, and don't know which way this affects the timing to go......
We have to unplug the 4wire connector at the base of the dizzy and then set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC.
It's kind of a bitch to get the connector unplugged/plugged, but doable.
And also, IIRC, it says on the smog-tag in the engine bay, that you're supposed to disconnect the EGR tube and plug it with something.
Don't do that myself, and don't know which way this affects the timing to go......
10-06-2007, 10:41 PM
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Re: Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
Can someone illustrate the 4 wire connector that needs to be unplugged? I don't have any wires at the base of my distributor I could disconnect. The car is running, I installed the distributor as close as I could to what I removed... Gotta get it perfect though
04-13-2015, 08:17 PM
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Car: 1989 Camaro
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Re: Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
Is this the same on a 89 v6 stick shift? Do I need to unplug the 4pin connector on the distributor?
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04-14-2015, 03:33 PM
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Re: Factory 2.8 V6 Timing Guide
I've got an 83 with the carbed V6 as well. Was wondering about the timing procedure.
Xipher, what did you end up setting it at where it was the happiest?
Xipher, what did you end up setting it at where it was the happiest?
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