dumb question about screwed up timing

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Oct 16, 2008 | 09:40 PM

TKs84TA

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 7

Likes: 0

From: Linden, MI

Car: 1984 Trans AM

Engine: 350

Transmission: 700R4

Axle/Gears: 3.23

dumb question about screwed up timing

A few days ago my distributor clamp in my 350 came loose and the distributor spun itself around and screwed my timing all up. After replacing the clamp with the RIGHT one I went ahead and did the old school advance till it spark knocks and back it off slightly... seemed to work just fine the car started just fine and after running her to hot and hitting it hard she seemed normal. But today I went to start the car and it kicked back on me the first time. Now I've noticed the RPMS have come up about 200 on a hot idle, normally 750 is now 950 to a 1000RPM idle. So I retarded the timing about a 1/4 inch... it doesn't kick back any more at all and runs fine but my idle is still 200-250 RPMs higher than normal, should I just readjust my idler screw? I don't have a timing tab on the motor so a timing light is out of the question, but the engine STARTS better than it used to it seems to start easier (chokeless carb in 60* weather either way is hard) but is has seemed to start easier since retarding the timing but the idle is really messing with me.

Oct 16, 2008 | 10:22 PM

jermdm

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 915

Likes: 2

From: Erlanger, KY

Car: 1989 Iroc-z

Engine: 350 TPI

Transmission: Auto 700R4

Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77

Re: dumb question about screwed up timing

Get a timing light. Your car might start and run half way decent but the timing can still be way off. The only way to make it right is use a timing light. Get it timed right before you make any other adjustments.