What would be ideal for my 305 TBI timing?

I have msd coil pack & dist cap with gold tab, plat spark plugs with gaped a bit more (dont know if thisll help a bit)

Also changing my timing do i do the carb setup or the efi setup? Its just baffling me because tbi is like a mix of both, since the computer only controls the injector pods...

 

I got a brand new 305 in its TBI, i know i had to retard mine 10degree's to get it to run right

 

isn't that alot?.. i dont have my sticker that says what my stock is.. so im going off my timing light to see, and i feel the previous owner maybe screwed with it. Mines reading at 12.9 advanced.. its hard to tell honestly, but thats what the timing light says. just trying to figure how to read the gun and understand it better

 

1st Q: Set to factory spec. with the est wire disconnected. 9-10* is not a uncommon reading with the distributor set @ 0*, & the est reconnected.
Sounds confusing, but the computers settings are doing it, some bins (instructions stored in the computer) will show as much as 20* once est is reconnected.

2nd: Your timing is computer controlled unless it has been changed.

 

Your post leads me to believe that you are trying to set timing without disconnecting the est wire.

Both of you gentlemen would do yourself a great favor to acquire a good service manual, it sounds like you will make good use of it.

 

You are not far off based on sgtconners post & my reply.

I'm sry. I don't have your spec. at my fingertips, yes the PO may have advanced the timing slightly.

 

i thought it was 6* advanced with est unplugged?

 

I placed a ten in. by ten in.piece of rubber sheeting over the distributor cap so my hand is never directly on the cap when running. This is a safety precaution from possible shock. don't want that.Untighten the distributor hold down bolt just enough to be able to turn it slowly.(you may need a wrench that is made for this very reason. They are inexpensive and can be found at any auto parts store.)With a basic timing light you start your car and warm it up to operating temperature whatever that may be for your car.Unhook the EST wire . Hook up your light to the battery and the other to the #1 plug wire. Then shine your light at the timing mark .Thats your base timing. Thats what we are working with.You adjust the timing by slowly turning the distributor ether right or left.After making small adjustments you must be sure to tighten the distributor down again in between adjustments. OK .I'm sure there are different ways to do this but this is what I was told would work. What I did was set the timing on my 305/TBI/Auto. to 0* with the est unplugged . Plugged it back in. and drove it up a nice long hill in drive under some load and listened for spark knock.No knock.Drove back down the hill and stopped the car and advanced the timing to 4* with the est unplugged with a basic timing light. Plugged it back together (you will have to tighten and untighten the distributor hold down bolt each time).Drove back up the hill in Drive under load and still no knock so dove the car back down the hill and advanced the timing again the same way I did before but to 6*. Up the hill under load in drive and still no knock. Went to 8* and back up that same darn hill. Finally had spark knock. That tells me I want to be ether at 6* or 7*. I want it just advanced enough that it is right on the line were there is no knock/knock. 6* works for me with a mid grade fuel.I can push it as hard as I can and it never knocks .I guess you don't need to use a hill but for me it worked great. My car pulls nice and hard at that setting.Its amazing how just setting the timing for my car has changed the way it runs/performs.Sounds like a hard way to do it but it only took me one afternoon and its done. Here's a article on spark knock = http://www.aa1car.com/library/spark_knock.htm

 

Stock is 0 with the EST wire unplugged. I run mine at 7-8 degrees. 12.9 is way too much if the connector unplugged.

 

Could someone post a picture of this wire i need to unplug? I honestly cant find this wire.. as stupid as it may sound.. no luck.

Also i read the gun manual (lol) and i set it to 0 and watched it flash the balancer and its telling me its 2* already.. so i think im fine.. (I think im doing it right by reading it)

 

no picture but on my 89 its right by the blower motor on the passenger rear corner of engine compartment

 

I found this photo on the Internet. I don't know what car its from but the est wire on my 1989 Camaro looks basically like this. same color and everything.The connector is larger than the one shown but you get the idea.

 

Let us know when you find it.

 

That photo is a 94+ pickup, behind glovebox, liner removed & looks like the ECM is missing from it's tray (the dark piece on the right).

 

OK, here it is on my Camaro.That is a magnified photo. Its a little bit smaller than that.