I cannot find out where my timing needs set at. I have a 3.8 V6 from a 1882 Malibu in my 1984 CAMARO. Can anyone help me with this. Also my timing light will not work on this engine (it works on my friends Mustang) the lead spark it up front on the divers side right? I think the timing is out because when I punch it it boggs down and sound like it want to backfire. Thanks for any help

 

WOW! thats one old Malibu

but seriously though, i dont know about the timing, i know that the 2.8 is supposed to be at like 10. you could use the trial and error method that i used, i would turn the distributer a bit and then take the car for a run to see how it performed, at one time it was horrib;y Sluggish, i was at a stop light next to a 2.3 mustang with a 30+yr old woman driving and i floored it and she pulled ahead of me.. without flooring i would guess!!!, but after i did trial and error i got it set at the best spot now i think...

 

When my engine was missing I floored it and a chevy lumina was ahead of me at every light.. not really flooring it I bet though.. just driving and accelerating faster then me.. !.. got that miss fixed now tho..

bring on the geo metro's

 

wouldn't a 3.4 lumina beat us anyways?

 

For the timing on the 3.8, you will have to set the timing to the specifications of the 3.8 motor. The motor does not know what vehicle it is in and it was specifically designed to work at the specified degree.

 

What kind of heads are on it? What kind of intake, carbureted?

The spec for the V6 3.8 Liter (229ci) 2BBL motor, Vin #K, (according to partsamerica.com) is 6 degrees advance. If you're carbureted without a computer, remember to unhook (and plug) the vacuum hose from the distributor before setting initial timing.