Brought to you in part by:

.


  Mustangsandmore Forums
  Ford Racing
  Lesson #3 : Ignition Timing

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Lesson #3 : Ignition Timing
Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 27499
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 04-19-2002 11:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SBF engines with flat top pistons do not like much timing no matter what. Big valves, big chambers, big cams, it doesn't make any difference. If you have a good ignition sysem and a locked in curve, it won't need more than 35 degrees tops to make max power.
We have always gone quicker and faster with "STOCK" 5.0 cars by advancing the sh*t out of the timing. We now understand why. All we were doing was over compensating for the EEC IV's natural retard program. Even though we would change the static timing, the computer would still retard it under a load at least ten degrees.
We used to always figure that non computer FoMoCo motors performed best at 38 degrees. Not so! You might pick up some low end, but you will loose double what you gain overall.
On full boggie race stuff or even just hot S&S motors we tried everything from 42 to 32 degrees. Of the 5 motors tested, all 5 liked 34-35 degrees MAX! You can gain as much as 15 HP by dropping down from 40 degrees.
Lesson is, make certain you have a good balancer, TDC is absolute, lock in your distributor, and set the timing at no more than 35 degrees. Always set the timing at over 4000 RPM unless you have a crank trigger and a belt drive. It WILL change as the RPM goes up.
PS I always knew that our low compression stuff with quench heads never liked a lot of timing, but never imagined that the 331-347-359 stuff with the great aftermarket unshrouded heads and neat new style pistons would not like 38 degrees. We just "ASSUMED" that because they ran good that way it was fine. Additional leson, NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!

------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator/ non 65-66 Mustang owner sensitivity co-ordinator

NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Part time secret agent license #0089
US Class Nationals link

IP: Logged

n2oMike
Gearhead

Posts: 2831
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 04-19-2002 11:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for n2oMike   Click Here to Email n2oMike     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hmmm... I've always run my car with around 36 degrees, which is right in line with what you said, but that Joe Sherman 400hp 302 article with the flattops and 289 heads made best power with 42 degrees. He said any more or less cost quite a bit of power. It had a single pattern hydraulic Isky 280 Mega Cam with 232 @ 0.050" and a 108 LSA.

Go figure...

------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220

IP: Logged

V8 Thumper
Gearhead

Posts: 4681
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 04-19-2002 11:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for V8 Thumper   Click Here to Email V8 Thumper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, I'll be dipped. Any explaination whatsoever ? I'm certainly not contesting your 'research' , in fact I'll total mine out at 34 and probably go down from there.

IP: Logged

n2oMike
Gearhead

Posts: 2831
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 04-19-2002 12:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for n2oMike   Click Here to Email n2oMike     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Moneymaker:

PS I always knew that our low compression stuff with quench heads never liked a lot of timing, but never imagined that the 331-347-359 stuff with the great aftermarket unshrouded heads and neat new style pistons would not like 38 degrees.

The newer heads have had a lot of thought put into their combustion chambers. They are more efficient than the older Ford castings, and therefore require less timing. Some of the new stuff runs best with 30-32 degrees... especially when combined with 'mirror image' reverse dome 'dished' pistons. A combustion chamber like this begins to resemble a sphere... moving the spark plug to the approximate center of this sphere makes for a HIGHLY efficient chamber that requires very little ignition advance.

Good Luck!
------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220

[This message has been edited by n2oMike (edited 04-19-2002).]

IP: Logged

n2oMike
Gearhead

Posts: 2831
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 04-19-2002 02:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for n2oMike   Click Here to Email n2oMike     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's that Joe Sherman budget 400hp street 302 w/289 heads article. A couple of corrections, the ACTUAL compression of the engine was 10.5, not 9.5 like the article listed... and I was mistaken about the total advance, it wanted 41 degrees instead of 42. They said moving it 2 degrees either way cost 5-10 hp.

http://www.jason.fletcher.net/tech/sherman/sherman.htm

Good Luck!

------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220

[This message has been edited by n2oMike (edited 04-19-2002).]

IP: Logged

67Coupster
Gearhead

Posts: 189
From: Fortson, GA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 04-19-2002 03:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 67Coupster   Click Here to Email 67Coupster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I currently run 35 degrees on mine. I was thinking of lowering to 33 and see what happens. I have KB 12cc dished pistons on my 393W with AFR185 heads. I'll post if it picks up.

------------------
James
67 Coupe
393W, AFR 185, 4 Speed, 4.11 9 inch
7.09 @ 97MPH 1/8
1.55 60'

IP: Logged

Daniel Jones
Gearhead

Posts: 898
From: St. Louis, MO
Registered: Aug 99

posted 04-19-2002 04:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Daniel Jones   Click Here to Email Daniel Jones     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's consistent with Pantera club dyno experience with closed chamber 351C heads. The open chamber stuff seems to need more advance. Both assumes pump gas. Aviation fuel and race gas may burn slower and may require more advance, at least with streetable compression ratios. With higher (dynamic) compression ratios, less advance would be needed so maybe a 13.5:1 motor on race gas would need similar advance to a 10:1 on pump gas. Alex, what sort of compression ratios and octane fuels were used in your tests?

Dan Jones

IP: Logged

Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 27499
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 04-19-2002 08:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Four 9 to 1 and one 10 to 1 compression engines. VP C-12 gas except on my SS engine where we used C-11 and C-12.

------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator/ non 65-66 Mustang owner sensitivity co-ordinator

NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00, '01, & '02
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Part time secret agent license #0089
US Class Nationals link

IP: Logged

kcode
Gearhead

Posts: 3288
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-19-2002 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kcode   Click Here to Email kcode     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm from that same old school of alittle timing is good, but more is better. That was until we put a 67 GT-350 on the dyno with an 11.0 to motor. Stock Hipo distributor set at 40*, backed the timing to 34* and increased HP by 8 at 6000 rpm. The only trouble was we had to bump the timing back up just to drive it. Sacrafices have to be made.

Mike

IP: Logged

chips67
Gearhead

Posts: 663
From: louisville, ky, usa
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 04-20-2002 03:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for chips67   Click Here to Email chips67     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
this feels about right. one time i was running at test and tune night and right befor the show i "tested" my timing by lugging the car in 3rd gear to listen for pings. ended up backing it off twice before it quit. the car felt like a slug driving around the lot, but imagine my suprise going form a best of 8.80's to 8.5's just after that change( this was 2 years ago). now as far as where my timing actually is, that i can never know. its a 5.0 motor with an old stylye water pump.....the bottom radiator hose dictated that i remove the factory timing tab....so i really dont know where it is. a 5.0 does have flat-tops right? i guess if these afr heads are as efficient as claimed and i got flat-top pistons then alex's theory (if true) would apply to my case in spades.

------------------
67 coupe, 650dp and rpm intake on 5.0 with afr 165 heads, 4 speed, 4.11's.....best so far is [email protected] in 1/8 mile with 1.79 60ft. time.

IP: Logged

Mario428
Journeyman

Posts: 82
From: Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 04-21-2002 01:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mario428   Click Here to Email Mario428     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My brothers 351 with the old TRW poup pistons and Windsor Sr aluminum heads runs beat at 32 degrees timing. He has tried every possible other number, he refuses to leave the car alone and 32 runs the quickest and fastest.

IP: Logged

kid vishus
Gearhead

Posts: 6590
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000

posted 04-21-2002 06:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kid vishus   Click Here to Email kid vishus     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Moneymaker:
Lesson is, make certain you have a good balancer, TDC is absolute, lock in your distributor...


OK, since my car has domed pistons, and since it's on alcohol and likes a fair amount of timing (over 40*), I guess I need to buy a start retard box so it will start if I lock out the distributor.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Mustangsandmore Front Page

Copyright 2005, Steve LaRiviere. All Rights Reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47d

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More

[Acronyms][Calendar][Chat][Classifieds] [Members' Pics]

[ Mustangsandmore.com Bookstore] [ Smokin' Fords] [Tech Articles]