Ok im setting my timing and I have a question. To the right of the 0 there is the few marks then 4 6 and 8. I set it to 8 and drove it and lost all low end power. Set it on the 4 mark and its much better. This is my question, turning the distributer clockwise advances or retards? The BTDC thing has me all confused. Base timing is six so setting it to the 4 on the metal tab is advancing or retarding?

 

BTDC= before top dead center.

Counter clockwise advances. Setting the mark at 4 is 4º BTDC as 6 is 6º BTDC. 6 is more advanced than 4.

 

But when I turned the distributor counterclockwise it went from 8 to 4.

 

Are you reading above the 0 ? like toward 12 o'clock? or below the 0 like toward 3 o'clock? The farther toward 12 o'clock on the balancer is more advanced.

 

The 4 6 and 8 are to the right of the 0. Not sure what you mean by 12 and 3 o'clock though.

 

Well, if your reading to the right of 0 and your looking at the front of the car, the bigger the number the more retarded it is. Move it to 6º to the left of the 0. Be sure to unplug the timing plug on the firewall. Once you have 6º base, tighten the distributor and plug the timing wire back in. See how that runs. The 4º too the right of zero means your a total of 10º to far retarded.

 

You're on the wrong side of "0". To the left of "0" is BTDC (facing the block)

 

 

Why would they put all of the numbers be to the right of the zero if its not supposed to be over there. l l 0 l l l 4 l 6 l 8 l l thats what the metal tab looks like. Currently the the groove on the balancer is lined up with the 4. When it was on the 8 there was no power down low until the upper rpms. So I should move it to the other side of the zero? I turned the distributor way clockwise in order to get it to the 6 on the metal tab. I used to be able to spin the tires anywhere in first gear. Now ive lost that...wish I wouldlve checked it before I changed it.

 

I don't know why that was.

All I can tell you is to the right of "0" is ATDC and farther away from where you want to be.

To the left of "0" is BTDC and where you do want to be.

 

okey doke then. Thanks.