I have an old style hei distributor that I put a moroso recurve kit on it I noticed it takes forever for the mechanical advance to kick in the headers got red hot. I used a light and heavy spring to bring in total advance at 5500 back fire through carb with big flame. I know it is a timing problem but what do I need to do to fix it.

 

Were you trying to get it "all-in" at 5500? Way too high, recurve for 3000 to start, adjust as needed from there.

 

No iwas trying to bring it all in by 3,000 but my mechanical advance isnt advancing but it jumps in when the rpm hit 3,500 or so. I think I might have the center plate upside down?

 

Hmmn, not sure without seeing it. You are disconnecting the vacuum advance (and plugging the carb side) when adjusting mechanical curve?

If so, and nothing happens until 3500, then most likely something didn't go together correctly, or is binding. Without knowing spec's on the distributor, I'd expect to see the mechanical begin to creep over basetiming by 1200rpms or so...probably lower on a stock vac advance HEI.

 

I am pretty sure i put the center plate on upside down I am trying to find a photo of a GM distributor with the weight configuration. yes the vac port is plugged and disconnected

 

Was this a new or working distributor? Or one from the wrecking yard?

 

It was a used working distributor that I have attempted to recurve.

 

You'll probably be okay once you pop it open.

My first "recurve" experience...I left the springs out...never mind the results

 

Your probably right it was the flames through the carb is what got me. So I put the light on it and it wasnt advancing as soon as it decided to advance it was as smooth as can be.