how do i set the timing on my 89 camaro RS? its got the 2.8 engine. i have the timing light just dont know what todo.

 

i would suggest to get a haynes manual or something similar to it from the parts store, its tells you set by step on how to set the timing, and it will help you in the long run if your are a DIY kind of person, and only cost $15-$20.

 

Just in case you don't already know... you will need a distributer wrench along with that timming light.

 

Since I get tired of people throwing the "do a " thing...

Your timing light will probably have a positive and negative battery connections, you'll have to attach the connections to the corresponding terminal on the battery (positive on positive, then negative on negative).

Your timing light will also have another little clip, take the clip and put it on #1 plug wire.

Then take your distributor wrench and loosen the distributor hold down bolt (it's right below the distributor, on the back of the engine, on top of the intake manifold)

Now unplug the ESC connector (it should be on the side of the dizzy in the 6 cylinders IIRC)

Then turn the car on and go back to the front of the car.

Now look to the very bottom of the engine, where the crankshaft is, the largest pulley on the car, right before that (in between the engine and the pulley) is what's called the balancer.

The balancer will have a tiny notch in it, you will point (and squeeze trigger) at the balancer, and the tiny notch in the balancer should show up at the flashes of light. This will show you the timing of the car according to the little tab on the timing cover.

Turn your distributor clockwise or counter-clockwise to the timing you'd like, then use the distributor wrench to tighten the distributor back on at the desired timing.

Turn car off, then take off the timing light connections and plug the ESC connector back up, then fire it up again and behold your new found powers of "TIMING DO-IST!"...

or maybe people will call you Captain Timing now?

Oh, and reply after you've done it, for some feedback

 

nicely done. i thought about explaining the whole procedure, but figured that since he didnt know how to work a timing gun that there are a few things he should know before he set the timing. there for i recommended a manual.:lala:

 

I know

I think the manuals are confusing and too generalized, they dont typically help me atleast lol.

I hope he got something from it... plus now I can just point people to this post when anyone asks about how to set your timing lol.

 

FYI
From Alldata for 1988 V8 should be the same for V6.
Set timing under the following conditions:

1. Normal operating temperature
2. Air cleaner installed
3. A/C off
4. Transmission in neutral
5. Disconnect SET TIMING connector (tan/black wire) located in harness close to distributor. (actually over the top of the A/C) DO NOT disconnect 4 wire connector at distributor.
   
   If you can't find SET TIMING connector then do as SellManB said.
   
6. Connect timing light and adjust as necessary by loosening hold down bolt and rotating distributor. Tighten hold down, recheck timing and connect SET TIMING connector. Clear ECM trouble code by disconnecting ECM power source.

 

thanks for filling in blanks

 

I don't meen to throw a monkey wrench in this thread but I would like to know how I set my timming as well but no one has been able to tell me. I have a 383 with MSD 6AL and an MSD dist. I have 2 timming lights, one with a dial and one without. with the car at idle and using the light with the dial the mark on the balancer is on 0 and the number on the lights dial is 20. the motor was dyno tested and did best at 36. how do I get it to 36 total timming???? its only off by a little but it would be nice to have it back where it should be.

 

I dont mean to be rude, but the instructions are pretty universal... which are posted above

 

Base timing is what is being discussed in this thread. The total advance is set by the ECM's computer Memory chip.)

The light is used to set the base timing which should be on a sticker somewhere in the engine bay.

I've never used a dialed timing light, but I'm thinking of getting one.

FYI green text = edits.

 

you say to disconnect the ESC harness from the dist. on the MSD my dist has a 2 wire harness and the coil wire and thats it, rgarcia says not to disconnect the 4 wire harness connected to the dist, well my setup is totally diff. I know you guys are refering to a stock setup so thats why I assumed your instructions would not pertain to my setup.

 

I have to correct myself, you didn't say to disconnect the esc from the dist. I assume the esc stands for "electronic spark control" and this wire or harness would normally come from the ecm. the ecm on my car has been removed so this esc does not exist in stock form on my car anymore.

 

Which distributor do you have, does it have a vacuum canister? if it does then disconnect the vacuum, which is the same thing as disconnecting the set timing connector on the EFI stock setup. (don't forget to plug the vacuum line before starting the engine) then set the base timing, lock it down and reconnect the vacuum line.

 

no vacume lines on this dist.

 

ok the dist model number I have is 85551 and that is hooked up to your standard MSD 6Al box. the only thing other than the spark plug waires that come off this dist is a 2 wire harness that plugs into the msd box, nothing else whatsoever.

 

MSD can tell you what it should be because it's a mechanical advance distributor with a specific timing curve that they setup for it, (determined by the weights, springs, and timing stops.) if no one else has changed it.

Use your standard timing light to determine the current initial timing; warm up the engine and check the timing at idle (between500-700 rpm.)(could be anywhere from 4 to 18°.) MSD tech support will tell you how much centrifical, and total advance the distributor has, then subtract the centrifical from the total and the remainder is the initial timing which, is what you should have see in the above. With the standard timing light the timing should not be at 0°.

FYI

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Keep us posted

 

One more thing.. All the above instructions forgot to let people know they need to have the engine running to set it. LOL

I am only posting this because he did not know how to use the light in the first place.

 

Idle = engine running.

 

I believe I stated it as well And even made it so "stupid friendly" as to state to go into the car and turn the car on, and then COME BACK TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR haha...

 

I guess it was so stupid friendly I read past both of them..