i have a gm code scanner, my dad used to use it on his 91 2500 ck but now hat hes gone i have the truck and the scanner.
my question is will the scanner help me in the timing process or are you guys talkin about a different type of scanner. this think is no bigger than four inches and alll it does is plugs in and it flashes the service light to reveal codes

 

No one huh?
WHeres shifty when you need him?

 

you can flash any codes with a paperclip there is a tech article on it.

You will not need it to time the engine, there is a sticky at the top of the page that explains the timing process.

HTH.

 

i know i dont need it but according to the tech article on thirdgen.org it said that i would need a scanner or winaldl to check for knock counts. what is a knock

 

They are not refering to a code scanner but a parameter scanner like windal and a few others. Knock is detonation or "pre-ignition". Your knock sensor will detect it and send a certian value to the ECM which will in turn use a look up table to tell you a certian value in windal. Knock is bad, but there as acceptable limits to the count numbers you get. As dewey said, you do not need either of this to set the timing of your car.