How do I time my car? I have a timing light but have never used it. I understand the basics and am quite embarrased that I don't know how to do this. :lala:

I tried to search the boards but That only gave me instructions for specific engine combos.

Reason I need to know is that I want to switch to a 100 shot from my curent 75 (NX kit).

ALL help is greatly appreciated. :hail:

 

do you know where the timing mark is?
:hail:IROC-Z

 

To retard your timing you're going to need to look at the mark on the harmonic balancer at the front of the engine. There is a groove in it that should be painted white, if not.. paint it. What kind of timing light is it? If it has a dial it will be a bit easier. After you get it hooked up(you should have it connected to the first spark plug wire), you want to point it at the harmonic balancer and pull the trigger with the engine running and the est bypassed. The EST bypass is a single wire connector near the heater. Loosen the distributor hold down. Spin the distributor counter clockwise(correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while) to retard the timing. You will have to use the marks on the timing cover and the dial on your gun(if it has one) to accurately change it.

 

Just to add a couple of little things, the engine needs to be running and at operating temp when you pull the EST bypass wire, and after you set the timing you will have to pull off the negative battery cable for about 30 sec. to clear the code that pulling the EST bypass will throw. A Chiltons will help.

 

Ya I know where the timing mark is.

The gun doesn't have a dial. How much do those cost? I didn't buy this one I have now.

How do I figure out how many degress its advanced? How do I "read" the timing light?

 

The block has your degress tab and your balancer has a line on it. The tab will show the degrees on it. So when you hook up the light and run the engine it you will be able to see how the marks line up. The Advance timing light has a **** on the back that once you have found 0* on your timing tabs ( which if you can't read the numbers is the larger indent on the tab) you can use the **** on the back of the gun to advance the timing of the light, so if you advance like I did to 4* I set my timing on the engine to 0* then on the gun I advanced to 4* then I moved the distributor till I got the marks back to 0* on the timing tabs, this put my engine at 4* advanced. The advanced timing light is $69.99 from Sears I would recommend this timing light if you were going to get one.