Timing An Old RV With A 454

[dirtyoldman]

Has anyone tried to set the base timing on an engine where it's impossible to see the timing pointer?Well evidently GM(or maybe Fleetwood,who made my Pace Arrow)had a better idea.....add a pointer 45* past the other pointer and connect the timing light to #8(next plug in the firing order)plug wire.I discovered this a couple of years ago.You gotta lay on your back under the engine bay but the pointer is VERY visible.You'll need a friend to move the distributor for you and may cost a couple of beers

I mention this because I had needed to set the base timing to 4*BTDC(OEM setting)to pass smog....and it did WooHoo!!! The tech said it's burning very clean...good news

A pic & avery short vid:

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[Bigredmariner]

Ha! I'll be dammed, never seen that.

 

[Cowboy Cadillac]

Just set timing on a 400sbc last sat nite by using a screwdriver through sparkplug hole to find tdc(roughly) because there was no pointer( another "gearhead" tried and had it totally screwed up). Truck fired right up and only needed slight bump to distributor to purr

Ill have to remember your little trick

 

[Sodbuster]

I'll be darned...thanks for passing along Gary.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Now that it passed I'll be bumping it back up to 8* before Never seen a BBC that ran worth a shit at the OEM setting,they like a little more advance

 

[Texas Jim]

Now that it passed I'll be bumping it back up to 8* before Never seen a BBC that ran worth a shit at the OEM setting,they like a little more advance

Agreed...also lighter springs on the flyweights inside the distributor will sometimes help too.
That will allow the advance to come in at lower rpm.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Now that it passed I'll be bumping it back up to 8* before Never seen a BBC that ran worth a shit at the OEM setting,they like a little more advance

Agreed...also lighter springs on the flyweights inside the distributor will sometimes help too.
That will allow the advance to come in at lower rpm.

Very true,those spring kits were a very popular mod...''back in the day''.I wonder,is that still done with the modern ign. systems?

 

[Bigredmariner]

No springs, no distributor anymore.

 

[66nova]

I have never seen that. Very odd location.

You could always just lock the distributor gramps I have the Nova locked at 38 degrees advance.

That might not be ideal for a RV though

 

[dirtyoldman]

I was thinking when someone rebuilds an older vehicle...and trying to keep it as close to factory as possible(with a few hidden mods )