My car seems to be running very rich so a mechanic friend told me to advance the timing and see if it helps. I checked the base timing and it was at 4 degrees BTDC so I started advancing it 2 degrees at a time. At first it seemed to run a lot better but right before it would shift into 2 and 3 it would almost hestiate for a minute and then go upa few more RPMs and then shift. I went from 4 all the way to about 12 in 2 degree increments.

Any ideas?? It didn't seem to be "pinging" or anything like that. This mechanic owns a speed shop and he said just advance the timing, and leave the fuel pressure. We had it on the dyno and the horsepower was very low and it spitting black smoke out. Please help. Thanks

oh ya he also said I should have about 40 or 50 more horsepower if tuned right. I only had 228 RWHP so something isn't right

 

For starters... Put your timing back down to 6*. The mechanic probably has no experience with FI if he made a statement like that about the fuel pressure. Dyno runs are made at WOT... the only method you have to tune wide open throttle is your FUEL PRESSURE. If you are running rich at WOT...back off the pressure until your 02 readings are in range and your power should increase.

 

Thanks I will play w/ the fuel pressure, but doesn't 4 or 6 degrees of timing sound low for my mods?? Or could my car really need this little timing?

 

your rich problem didnt show up after you put on that TPIS chip did it

 

not sure, b/c I have had the chip for so long. But I did talk to them today and they said they set their chips up to run 6 degrees of base timing and anymore than that I could get detonation(sp?)

My fuel pressure is around 50 w/ the vacum line off and he said to back it down to around 45 or so. The problem is that I can't back it down anymore. The screw for the fuel pressure regulator is hitting the bottom of the plenum and I can't back it off anymore. What should I do???

 

That's alot of fuel pressure (50lbs) for your mods! Back it down to 42 - 44 lbs and see if it's still running rich. I believe the stock fuel pressure for a 350 TPI is 42 lbs. Are you running the stock injectors? If not, what injectors are you running? Take off the AFPR and take the adjustment bolt out. Then with a hack saw or dremel tool, shorten the bolt a little bit and resassemble the regulator. This should clear up the clearence problems and allow you to lower your fuel pressure down to 42lbs. Then see if the car still runs rich.

 

Thanks for the help. Yes my injectors are stock, but they are 19lbs. b/c my car was originally a 305 but the chip has been calibrated for that. So does the entire regulator have to come off to take the screw out or can I just leave it bolted down and take the screw out? Thanks