Thanks to BL's details, I moved my distributor clockwise about an 1/8" and took it for a spin, and the knock appears to be gone.
I don't know what I'd do without this list.. One thing's for sure- My car still probably wouldn't be running and driveable! Thanks guys!!! Jim '66 Malibu '59 Corvette --- TC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > nice job BL > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bill Lessenberry > To: The Chevelle Mailing List > Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 5:47 PM > Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] timing question (yes, > another one...) > > > I am trying to understand the whole concept of > timing > in general > > There are basically two types of timing on > motors--1.Cam timing, which is the relationship > between the cam lobes' opening and closing points > and the crankshaft position. This is set when the > motor is built, and cannot be changed without > disassembly of the engine (usually) and, 2. Ignition > timing, which is when the coil fires the spark to > ignite the fuel in the cylinder. This is adjusted > by twisting the distributor. The timing is > measured by the marks on the crankshaft pulley in > relation to the marks on the timing tab that is > mounted on the timing chain cover on the driver's > side of the motor. When the coil fires, it sends > current down the spark plug wire that jumps the plug > gap, creating a spark that burns the fuel. Since it > takes a certain amount of time for the fuel to burn, > we need to send the spark down before the piston > reaches the top of it's stroke. However, if the > spark is sent too soon (too far advanced), the > piston is working against the pressure of the > combustion and that causes a knocking sound and some > loss of power. > > > I have a timing light but am not > entirely sure of where to hook it up on my > Edelbrock > Performer 600 carb. > > You don't hook a timing light to the carb--there > are different types of lights, but usually you will > hook one wire to battery positive, the other to > battery negative, and the sensor to #1 spark plug > wire. On a Chevy, #1 cylinder is on the driver's > side front. When it's hooked up, the light will > flash when the coil fires the #1 spark plug. Before > you use the light you will need to mark the crank > pulley where the line is scribed on it with a paint > color that will contrast with the pulley color. > Also mark the timing tab with the same color paint > at the place where you want to set the timing. The > timing tab is marked with a 0 in the middle. The > marks that are above the 0 are Before Top Dead > Center (BTC), the marks below are After Top Dead > Center (ATC). If you want the timing a 10 deg BTC, > paint the 10 deg mark on the tab. Usually you will > also need to take the vacuum hose off of the vacuum > advance can on the distributor and plug the hose > with a golf tee or a screw. Start the motor, and > see where the marks are. If you marked 10 deg, the > mark on the crank pulley and the timing tab should > line up. If the mark on the crank is above the mark > on the tab, the timing is advanced; loosen the > distributor hold down bolt and turn the distributor > clockwise until the marks line up. If the pulley > mark is below the tab mark, the timing is retarded > and you'll need to turn the distributor counter > clockwise to adjust it. > > > > Can I just turn the distributor > counter-clockwise an 1/8" or so and see if that > helps? > > Yep, but that will advance the timing, and that's > not the way you need to go to stop pinging. Turning > it clockwise will retard the timing. > > > Also when retarding the timing, do I just > loosen the > bolt and turn the distributor slightly? > > Yep, retarding or advancing. > > > Or do I have > to lift it out of its existing position with the > cam > gear and drop it back in? > > Nope. > > > I don't know why, but the > timing thing has always been a confusing topic > to me. > > I hope I didn't confuse you even more. :-)) > > BL ===== '59 Corvette #5366 1959 Corvette Registry, Webmaster http://59vette.cjb.net __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover
