Ok I know you guys are gonna think Im stupid as hell. But what does a timing light do? Im looking at Summit now and it has a timing light and it says "Tune-Ups made easy". And "How to be your engines own doctor." and something about accurate readings. Can someone please clue me in on the Pros and Cons for this????? Thanks alot!

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1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Open Air Intake
Z-28 Exhaust

 

Well I'm no "engine doctor", but if you're gonna do a tune up, do it right - set the timing as well. I bought a timing light from AutoZone for like $35 or so...

KAM

 

What does it do?


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1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Open Air Intake
Z-28 Exhaust

 

The timing light is a strobe light that flashes in time with a spark plug firing, usually on cylinder #1. By aiming the light at the timing marks on the balancer, it "freezes" the marks so you can see what position the piston is in when the plug fires. More expensive timing lights (almost said more advanced )let you advance the flash so you can more easily measure the spark advance without relying on the timing comb. Some also have built-in tachometers and dwell meters for the ultimate in convenience.



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1984 Silver Z28, 383 cid 4 bolt, ARP Fasteners, 2 1/2" Cowl Induction Hood, 600 cfm Performer Carburetor, Torker II Intake, Performer RPM Heads, XE268H Cam, Magnum Roller Tip Rockers, MSD6AL Ignition, Blaster2 Coil, Recurved HEI Distributor, 700R4, TransGo SK, 2.73:1 Limited Slip Dana 44, Terminator Headers, Custom 3" TIG Welded Stainless Exhaust, Flowmaster Muffler, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Oil Cooler

 

Man, you lost me about 2 words into what you said. I didn't understand a damn thing you said. Mainly cause Im stupid and im not that smart on working on cars (fixing). So is there ANY way you can put that in like a more simple way? And does it help you out speed wise? Like does it let you "tweak" the engine? Thanks!

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1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Open Air Intake
Z-28 Exhaust

 

We're talking about setting the ignition timing here. The engine needs to have the spark sent to the cylinder at a precise time with respect to the piston travel in order to run properly. The timing light is used to determine if the initial spark timing is set properly. That is done as Apeiron described. The timing is adjusted by turning the distributor base so that the spark is sent either earlier or later, depending upon which direction it was off. There can be gains to performance by adjusting the timing from factory specifications, but they are rather minimal.

I'm not very familiar with the 3.1 V-6, but I'm not sure it even has adjustable timing. I know the 3800 V-6's in my Bonnevilles of the same vintage are not.

No offense intended, but if this still doesn't make sense to you, you need to get a handle on the basics of engine operation and tuning. This can be accomplished by getting books on the subject, enrolling in community college, H.S., or adult education classes, or hanging around people who do understand the topic and having them explain and show these things to you.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car. Rescued w/86 LG4/TH700R with all harnesses, sensors, ECM, etc. 2.73 open. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. Currently 396 .030 over, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I understand the basic of what it is supose to do. I just dont understand how to do it. And they dont teach auto ANYTHING in any H/S around here. Dont know about where you live.

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1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Open Air Intake
Z-28 Exhaust

 

well maybe if you buy it, it will have instructions with it. if not ask on a post the exact PROCEDURE of how to set your timing...as opposed to what is a timing light. good luck...

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
350 on the way!!

 

The 3.1 has adjustable timing; all V6's in 3rd gen's had a distributor, none of that DIS stuff.

The procedure is covered in the Haynes 82-92 Firebird/Camaro manual. There's not much to it.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards