i cant figure where to put my timing for the most power right now i have it 4*btdc i dont no if thats a good spot -- my motor is a 85 305 with a non cc qjet, elderbrock intake, a lil cam dont know what it is but i think i have one, hedman headers shorty, and 3" flomaster 80 series catback..o and all the emissions are gone as well as the computer its running 60's style

 

hey i think you have a cam in that motor too but then again i think every fbody has a cam....

but with your timing you need to advance it as far as possible untill it pings under heavy load then back it off a couple of degrees...

how is your timing advance controlled?

 

If it's an old style HEI with weights/springs/vacuum advance then start out around 12* and see how it goes.

 

12* adv or retard.....if your looking at the engine standing in front of the car retard is to the left and advanced is to the right...right..o its a Hei wit vacuum advanced

 

hey it might not have a cam

maybe some put a rotary in it?

 

12* advanced.

 

Adjust timing slightly.

More power? Yes/no...

Yes: Adjust it some more the same direction
No: Adjust it the other way

More power? Yes/no....

Yes: Adjust it some more the same direction
No: Adjust it the other way

More power? Yes/no....


And continue until all you get is "no", no matter which way you adjust it.

Then AND ONLY THEN, the timing will be where the motor makes the most power.

Notice at no time did I say anything about a light, or numbers, or what somebody else's car runs like, etc.

 

advanced it to the left and retard is to the right if your looking down with a light??--how much more power could i gain from doin this??

 

Does it matter which way is which?

Adjust it. Better/worse?

Better: adjust it some more.
Worse: adjust it back to where it was, and just a little further.

Better/worse?

Repeat until ideal is achieved.

Does the light matter? Does that process mention a light anywhere? Does the engine whup out it light and look at some mark someplace, and decide accordingly how it's going to run? Well since it doesn't, then the light is of no value whatsoever, except to know AFTER you do the above tuning, where it is, so you can put is back in case you disturb it.

Who knows how much power you could gain? That would depend on, among other things, how far away from "optimum" it is now. Maybe none if it's already "perfect" (what the engine wants), maybe ALOT if it's a long way off.

 

On your antique setup you have much to experiment with and to get it right may well ultimately involve re-curving your distributor (easily done on a distributor machine). Turning the distributor is a good way to experiment but it changes the timing across the board and you might find yourself with an engine that cranks hard. Mr. Klaus Allmendinger (very smart guy) of Innovate Motorsports wrote a paper debunking among others, the myth about advancing until it detonates as being the best place to have your ignition timing. It is a very good read and should help you understand not only where you want to get your timing, but why you want it there. http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/resources/myths.php
Enjoy