To set timing does the car have to be warmed up or in low idle to set it? Someone told me that it does but I thought as long as the tan wire with the black stipe is unhooked it didn't matter.

Also how high could being out of time make a car idle at? It's a 91 RS TBI.

 

I just set the timing tonight enough to get it started so my engine was cold. Heck it hadn't ran in 6 months. Just disconnect that tan wire. You should be able to set it even before it idles down, but I don't see a point to trying.

 

It's really just an argument betweeen me and a friend.

It's a brand new engine and it's idling at 2000rpms. It's got open headers right now so I don't know if it would ever "idle down" because of the oxygen sensor not heating up.

But the timing is way out and we've got to set it before we go to the exhaust shop.

But anyway it's just an argument between friends. He says that even with the tan wire unhooked it still advances a little, and that if it isn't down to normal idle that it won't be right. I think this is a bunch of bull.

 

Dude, I think he's right. You don't NEED to have the engine warm but it helps a LOT. Your friend is more right than wrong. The only way I would set my base timing is after the car is warm and then adjust it at IDLE only. BTW, from what I've read, the ecm will not adjust timing with tan wire unhooked.
Set base timing pretty low for now, makes for a better idle under load and easier to start. Then advance a little if you feel like you don't want to pay for a custom eprom.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

 

JP what do you suggest for base timing on my similar setup to yours? Thanks for any help, I need it!

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91 RS 350TBI VORTEC HEADS EDELBROCK PERFORMER INTAKE LT4 CAM AND 1.6 ROLLERS EDELBROCK HEADERS INTO 3" TO DYNOMAX MUFFLER 3:08 5SPD HARDTOP

 

Ok I just tested something out on my bird. The timing advances a little if you rev it up, in steps, by a few degrees.

 

The problem with my engine is that it can take more timing than stock. This is cool but a PITA to adjust. When my car was running like crap (really hard to start) it turned out to be my base timing. Now that I turned it down it has a GREAT idle and it running great until I punch it. It doesn't have enough advance up top above 3000 and I can feel the difference. When you adjust timing, have a guy put the car in gear, this will make sure it isn't too far advanced. I just learned this the hard way. As for my sugestion on the exact number to try, I don't know. I don't know what my timing is at right now. My timing tape is fubar, does anybody think 46 degrees is normal? HA, definatly something wrong and I gotta fix that soon. You're probably going to want to be around 8/10 base but see what works best.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website