Ok, I did a few searches on ignition timing to see if I was doing something wrong. I found this one that helps the best, have a look...

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=282164

Now, after reading that post I will tell you that I have been told by a few people that drag race cars to set the base timing to about 10 degrees advanced. Now I did set it to 10 degrees, and I will show you. I have a Fluidampr that has timing marks etched into the main body. It looks like this..

10 0 10
l l l l l l

I figured that since the crankshaft spins clockwise, that 10 degrees advanced would be the 10 that is on the right...

10 0 10
l l l l l l
(Here^)

That is where I have it set to now, and it idles very poorly. If I turn the distributor the other way and it reads anywhere in here.....

10 0 10
l l l l l l
^^^
The engine starts to smooth out. Am I doing this wrong???

 

You're retarded To the left is advanced, and to the right is retarded.

 

The timing marks that are etched into the body shouldn't go very far into the retarded range. They should only go about 10* or so into the retarded range. On the advanced side they should go at least to 45*. You never want to set the timing retarded. That means the spark plug is firing after the piston has gone past TDC.

Engine side
(-----V--------) - zero mark timing pointer on engine
10 0 10 20 30 40
|||||||||||||||| - Marks on balancer
Rad side
Set the zero mark on the pointer to here on the balancer. When you rev the engine up the marks should change to a higher advance.

(------------V-)
10 0 10 20 30 40
||||||||||||||||

Don't believe the timing marks. Although it's close, the pointer isn't always acurate. You should use a degree wheel and a piston stop to determine exactly where #1 TDC is. Chances are the timing marks won't be exactly at zero when the piston is at TDC.

Best way to set timing is with an advanced timing light. It allows to so set the timing to whatever you want. Set it to 10* then aim the light at the timing marks. Line up the timing mark to zero and timing is set to 10*. It's a lot easier to see the zero mark than it is to find 10*.

If the distributor is computer controlled, you need to disconnect the timing signal wire before adjusting timing.

 

As for drag racers setting timing, I don't use a timing curve. My distributor is locked out to full advance. My base timing is currently set to 37* and it stays there if I'm idling or at WOT. Timing advance is only needed for part throttle operation. Drag cars are either idling through the pits or at WOT. If my engine is hard to crank over at full advance, my ignition has a start retard where I can retard the timing up to 20* to help start the engine. Once it's over 500 rpm, timing goes back to full advance.

 

So which one is it? Marc 85Z28 said that advanced timing numbers are on the left side of the 0 on the balancer and the diagram that you showed me has advanced looking like the numbers on the right side of the 0 on the balancer. I just want to make sure I get it right so I don't break anything

 

Going by marks on the balancer, they would be the marks on the right. If you were using a timing tab attached to the timing chain cover then the advanced marks would be on the left of zero.

The motor rotates clockwise so that's were the confusion would lye when one person is thinking balancer marks vs another thinking a timing tab. Just think about it for a second and it will make sense.

You are using the correct balancer marks for 10 degrees advanced.