I understand the concept of initial timing and total timing however, there isnt an article that explains the procedure from the very beginning. In the tech article here, its basically useless unless you understand how to use a gun. I've searched all over and cant get a solid answer to this question. From what I found it seems that there is a majority of peole also lost in this question.
I plan on targeting it to 12degrees BTDC. Before purchasing a gun I've been messing with it just by turning the distributor. I'm fairly certain Im off by a lot. It runs excellent on WOT, but horrible on pickup. When I have the Gun set up does the dial on the timing gun have to be set on Zero? Adjust the distributor by hand until it hits 12 degrees BTDC? What's the next proces concerning the dial? Excuse the idiocy, I just can't find a solid platform on timing for GM with external coils and no vacuum advance. Any website where you can point out would help to. thanks.

 

The easiest way to do it is buy a timing light that is adjustable. (Adjust is to 12* or what ever you want) then disconnect the EST (brown wire with a nice clip on the pass side)

start the car, connect the timing light to the number one plug wire and adjust the dizzy so the line goes to the TDC or 0* mark on the tab

 

The dial on the timing light provides an offset for the lights strobe so that the light flashes while the timing mark is on the timing pointer. Since the timing pointer only covers a relative few degrees of crankshaft rotation, you need the dial to check timing that is off the timing pointer's scale.

For instance when checking initial timing you connect the timing light's pickup to either number one or number six cylinders secondary ignition cable (aka plug wire). Prepare the car for initial timing check (disconnect wire, lines or whatever is applicable in your situation) and point the timing light at the timing mark. Turn the **** on the timing light until the timing mark is perceived to align with the zero (large) notch on the timing pointer. Read your initial timing off of the **** on the timing light. If you had to turn the **** to 12 Degrees to get the timing pointer to zero, then you have 12 Degrees of initial timing.

The process for total timing is similar but you leave timing connectors on and rev the engine to the speed you want to test at. For total timing this is the speed where the pointer ceases to climb. Use the **** to align the timing mark with the zero on the timing pointer. Read total timing from the **** on the timing light.

If you have a vacuum advance, you can use a hand pump to apply full vacuum advance (at idle), read advance from timing light dial, subtract initial advance to obtain vacuum advance.

 

The inductor pick up is clipped to the #1 cylinder spark plug wire, not the coil wire. So the timing gun doesn't care whether it is being used on an internal or external coil engine. If there is a coil wire, it isn't used.

 

Thanks again everyone!

 

I you were trying to obtain 12 degrees initial advance, you would set the timing light to 12 degrees and turn the distributor until the timing mark aligned with zero on the timing pointer.

 

That makes alot of sense,lol. But what if you were to retard it 12 degrees?

 

You would need to attach to cylinder 8 and dial in 78 degrees.

Why would you want to run it 12 retarded?

 

Not that I would. I'd just like to cover the basics of timing with an engine. It isnt as easy as I thought I'd be. I'm certain It'd be a whole lot easier seeing it done in person, but reading it does raise lots of questions and I hate to be one of those guys who just asks too much questions. What you have said has really helped though. Thanks a million. Now on to adjusting Roller rocker arms,lol.