i noticed in my haynes that i need special tool to time my car because it has the magnetic timing probe. where do i get them ?

 

It has provisions for a magnetic timing probe, but as far as I know only the factory actually owns one of those machines. Stick with a timing light, just make sure you unkook the est wire.

 

I actually found a mechanic in our neighborhood that tried thought he knows everything about f-body cars. But, he told me you don't have to unplug the est wire. I bit my tounge and watched as he adjusted the distrib to 6 deg. He then told the owner that it had a faulty distrib shaft and it would cost them like $175 more to replace. I caught up with the owner later that day and explained the real deal to them. Yes, Use a timing like on the NO# 1 plug, it is the easiest way to go.

 

after talking to a few gm mechs ,they said that haynes manuals are full of it and all i need is to unhook wire and use ordinary timing light.

 

Stock timing with the EST open is 0 deg (TDC).

Sometimes a little better performance can be had setting the timing a few degrees advanced, say 2 - 4 deg BTDC.

RBob.

 

I thought that I read in the Chilton manual or maybe Haynes that to set the timing on a TBI you needed to jump A&B on the ALDAL. It said to unhook the EST on TPI only. I need to see if I can find that one.

Anyone else ever hear that one.

 

Wherever you read/heard that, it is incorrect. Open the EST BYPASS connector and set the timing with a light.

RBob.