How much timing is too much?

[Chevyguy]

Originally posted by 93 Cobra needs input
I have read alot about total timing on the message board but never really knew how to go about it. So all you need to do if your at the track is pull the spout connecter and read and set total timing on the balancer at idle, then leave the spout out and the cars timing will not advance or use the preset computers timing advance? Sounds like a decent way to eliminate bad timing curves in my factory cobra computer. One question do you lose some power from not having your timing lower initinally then advancing? Thanks for any replys.

If you run with the spout disconnected you have locked out the dist, as it has a fixed rotor with no advance mechanisim at all. This will generally give crappy results, as you have NO advance curve at all beacuse there will be NO advance. You would set the initial at 34-36° and let her rip. MSD makes a delay box that retards the timing so you can actually start the motor, as this much initial timing will fight against the starter. Not really the way to go for a street car.

Playing with the initial timing actually moves the crappy stock curve up or down, so you can effect the total timing this way, but the computer still decides the advance curve.

If you want a different spark curve, remove the spout and use some type of aftermarket spark control module, or you can get a chip burned to give a better curve.

You could try to run a standard type distributor with mech advance etc, but this would probably cause the computer to freak out???