I need a little advice help: I bought a 88 RS Camaro 2.8 V6 for my Kid. Its been having some accelaration problems lately (stutter and backfire) I have replaced the ICV, MAF and recently replaced the entire distributor. No it seems to run ok but only if I set the timing at 50 degrees advanced! If I set it at 12 as some have suggested it misses backfires (exhaust) and runs crappy. but at 50 it accelartes fairly smooth and idles fine. Any Ideas??

 

Possible that the harmonic balancer has slipped on the hub.
Line up the timing marks on the balancer, pull #1 plug to see if the piston is at TDC (use a coat hanger to feel the piston). Then pull the dist cap, rotor should be pointing at #1 or #4 cap postion.
Check ecm grounds, sometimes they are on the back of the heads.
Make sure the timing advances when you rev it.

 

Honestly I don't even go by timing, I just line up the cap where it runs best....can't go wrong, if it really is way off, then it will run crappy, if its close, it will run good, can't really go wrong that way...might not be exact but if you can't go by timing marks its the way to go.

 

did you disconnect the orange and black wire under the dash? you have to unhook it to set base timing