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  • Wow this was awesome fellas.

  • Definitely subscribing very detailed, easy to understand, and your workin on Chevys, thanks for the great info guys!

  • Wonderful video!

    

  • Damn, this is great stuff.

  • GREAT VIDEO!!!

    

  • Sweet as video guys. Excellent job. Learnt a lot in a short 9 minute video, the most informative video yet!!! Thanks and keep it up!

  • so does a coil pack ignition pretty much do all this alectrically?

  • @louevilmetalhead in a modern car the ignition control unit is the modern equivalent of the mechanical distributor. it needs a bit more input from a crank position sensor and cam position sensor to be able to 'tell' each coil in the pack when to fire. The timingcurve is programed into an EPROM chip inside the ICU. (equivalent: flyweight advance and vacume advance.)

  • how would you set the time on an engine without a distributor ?

  • I bought a 1974 Olds 98 with a 455 in it. I changed the points dist. with an electronic dist. Fired it up and it idled. I searched and searched for the timing mark. Someone took it off! My dad told me once that if you don't have a mark, take it out to a deserted road and stomp on it. If it doesn't respond...do it again, till it does what you need it to do. Any sugestions? From 30 MPH to 70 MPH this old boat jumps! Your video was great, by the way.

  • they say retards a bad word i think its obserd gota use it ha ha good work guys

  • Hi Guys, big shout from Germany. Hell of a good training lesson on how to tune up your engine. Thank you alot guys. Would be nice if you get over the pond and tune up my Dauntless 225 with me ;-) Thanx, thanx, thanx!

  • really appreciate this!!

  • The Vortec 350s and 4.3s,you don't set the distribitor with a timing light.It is set with a scan tool.The part inside the distribitor tells the computer when to fire the fuel injectors

  • Thank you!

  • my good idea is to clip the timing light cable on no.1 plug lead up near the dizzy cap.It stops you burning your fingers on the pipes , and prevents the clip coming into contact with the hot pipes.

  • great video, thx

  • what about if the engine doesn't starts since the begin...

  • @jonathan99786 then you have to figure out why its not starting.....

  • Were would you set the timing on a 1946 Cadillac Flathead V8. I marked TDC on my Harmonic Balancer, when I had the Head off. When putting the timing light should it fire before TDC or after.

    My Harmonic markings were long gone. ANY HELP...

    Thanks

  • I guess this doesnt work on engines that are controled by the computer

  • I have a problem with my 350 it shoots 2 ft. flames out the carb and pops white smoke I.give it half pedal it sound ok Its a 1984 It has a elderbrock carb idk wats wrong w it . I put all new plugs wires cap all new

  • @gmcjoshua sounds too lean or timing is off

  • @gmcjoshua follow the spark plug wires back to the distrbuter nd make sure its the right wire for the right cylinder. theres going to be a set of numbers on your block the shows you how the distrbuter is supposed to be wired. the front of your distributer might be 1 then . 8 being on the passenger side and 1 on driver side.

  • there is no "typical" timing for a SBC they all vary drasticly wile a stock cam 350 will generally run at around 8 to 11 a 305 will perfer around 5 to 8. This can also vary drasticly based on year and engine model number. So overall there is no "typical".

  • Great video thanks.

  • OMG thank you so much. I just had a mechanic tell me you can't adjust the timing of a car haha... I guess I am going to do it myself. Thanks guys!!

  • @mariahkraft maybe not on a new car

  • @mariahkraft

    Depends on the car. If the car is using a CC distrbuter (common on late mid 80's chevy that used CC Q-Jet's) Then the timing is computer controlled and pretty much hard programmed into the chip. The only "setting" that is done is simply unplugging the data cable on the distrbuter it setting it to true TDC at idle and plugging it back in. There is no real adjustment to them. Short of reprogramming the chip (its written in stright assmbley so good luck with that)

  • Excellent, clear and concise.

  • Well done easy to understand, keep them coming

  • thanks guys great video

  • That timing light gun hella expensive.. Does anyone here used xenon timing light gun???

  • my car has low ignition timing on the highway. ~20 at 2400 rpm. is there anyway to increase this?

  • guys this is a really good video .. keep up the good work and hope you are both doing well

  • so how do i find the timing if i dont have that sticker on the balancer? its an old engine out of a 71 and it runs great but i can tell the timing is just a tad off bad listening to the engine run.

  • @killertctma i meant by listening not bad listening lol

  • Comment removed

  • @killertctma Find your pointer and clean it off, then mark your mark on your balancer with some white paint. If you can't find your pointer your gonna have to do it with a vacuum gage.

  • Wow, this is so informative and easy to understand! Thanks, guys!

  • Don't be a reTARD.

  • thank you for giving lessons to broaden my experience, may God repay you

  • good lession guys . thank u

    

  • Very informative video but does people use those antique ignitions? I thought ECU controlled and computer adjustble stuff was the thing today...

  • This is seriously THE most informative video I've watched on youtube. I feel like I just sat through the most interesting course I've ever taken. THANK YOU for taking the time to teach us knuckle heads this stuff!!!!!!

  • all the knowledge i need in 9 minutes...

  • sounds like gobbledy goop to me lool ! :/

  • changing the timing changes the compression ratio?

  • so if u increase the timing at idle, initial timing, the total timing would be also increased? or does the initial timing if increased the total timing stays the same? u can change 3 settings with MSD I assume and can u change it with an engine management system too or just within the ignition system?

  • Comment removed

  • Many thanks for your video. You guys have made a very useful & informative video for the common man.

  • Great video,

    Went outside and tried it on my old BMW e30 ( m20b20 with jetronic with mechanical distributor on the side of the block )

    Loosened the hold-down-clamp. Tried turning .... nothing, won't budge at all.

    Gave it a few gentle taps to loosen it... nothing

    Grabbed it with both hands ( cap off ) and threw some muscle at it.... nothing.

    Tried lifting it, also no effect.

    Any tips on loosening this mofo so i can turn it a bit?

  • Great job guys!

  • I got a 465 lift and a 2500 stall and a msd hei and a msd 6200 box on my smallblock 350 .do u think I need to change the springs to lights springs ?

  • @chevy5030 that is to set total timing - lighter springs raise it and heavy springs lower it

  • Most of us don't have your neat little white strip on our harmonic balancers showing the timing degree. Most of us just have a mark. Sooo, what are your thoughts on setting timing without your little cheat label?

  • @PsychoFreke The best way is to remove the heads and locate #1 cylinder...rotate engine with a breaker bar to get #1 cylinder at TDC (top dead center)...you can then mark you balancer with the "neat little white strip" which are quite cheap...(make sure you put on the white strip with "0" lining up with the pointer that is bolted to the engine)

  • @hockeyguy1802 That's cool, what kind of search terms would you use to find one of these?

  • how does this work for a 1995 3.9 Land Rover? PLEASE my dad wants me to find out so I can tell him; I'm a girl who was in the middle of shopping online I DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT TO SAY

  • @YoRkIeLoVeRt3... Either your father is a really funny guy or he is trying to make a mechanic out of you. Jokes aside, I would think the same principle shown in this video applies to your father's Land Rover.

  • Run on? , not an mg purchance?High idle speed my friend,

  • Its all good :)

  • Comment removed

  • Great video very well put together. thank you guys

  • Very informative, well filmed, I understood it.

  • lol wat

  • damn that just blew my Fukin mind! lol

  • sweet, i just learned a months worth of knowledge in highschool with this 9 min video.

  • I took zero highschool mechanics my bud has 10, 20 and 30, and he does not know what distributor is or does, ignition timing is chinese to him and when I replaced my fuel pump and he called me a genis. I would blame the teacher.

  • @LaosToaster your HS spends a month to learn timing?

  • you guys come by my place, i buy some beers and we replace my timing belt :D

  • can u do a 1989 mustan with the 302 5.0 plz man i need help an shit

  • What if you set the timing in center? Would do be o.k..

  • you guys have great teaching and explanation skills. Loved the video. Thanks for the knowledge too. Much appreciated and thanks for being generous with your knowledge.

  • LEGENDS!!!

    i WISH I HAD YOUR KNOWLEDGE!!!

  • hey u have a great teaching skills keep it up pls keep posting videos so that I can learn from you

  • MSD just earned a new customer : ) thanks for the video.

  • Fantastic!!

    I have never understood it til now.

    So a really really great video!!!!

    Thanxz

  • i have a 455 olds and i think the timign is to retard. when i shut off after running it clinks and shoots out gas from the carb. we moved distributor counter clockwise and on the timing tab. the mark was already farthest right before. after changing it, it went too far right past the timing tab but wasnt making the clinkin noiseanymore, but was alway running rich with a mixture of smoke( it was cold outside jjust looked like a mixture of smoke and air... i need help setting up my timing. thank

  • i have a 455 olds and i think the timign is to retard. when i shut off after running it clinks and shoots out gas from the carb. we moved distributor counter clockwise and on the timing tab. the mark was already farthest right before. after changing it, it went too far right past the timing tab but wasnt making the clinkin noiseanymore, but was alway running rich with a mixture of smoke( it was cold outside jjust looked like a mixture of smoke and air... i need help setting up my timing. thanks

  • Comment removed

  • Sorry Mate, I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't saying that I was gay. I was trying to help YOU find some pictures of some dudes. Everyone knows that Mens' Health magazine has pictures of really fit guys. After all, the pictures do have to live up to the name of the magazine! :)

    You were judging the appearances of the two mechanics above. That's why you said they were ugly. Remember saying that?

    I was just trying to help you find some handsome men.

    ...and you cursed me out. Thanks.

  • Very good! Thank you..

  • I have an 86 cutlass. It came with an electric carb/ and map sensor. I eliminated the electronic carb and went with an eldebrock. In doing so I just put in my distributor with vacuum advance. Is there anything I should know or you can tell me about how it should be running? I set the timing with vacuum advance line off set it to ''manufacture'' specs 20 BTDC ''olds 307'' hooked up my advance and drove it. parked and had to ''re reset'' the timing.... TIPS?

  • you my good two sirs...HAVE SAVED ME AND MY DAD A BOAT LOAD OF TIME! we were setting the timing to exactly 0 so our engine would spark (we'd smell the ignition) but the piston wouldnt go. (we have a v8 chevy small block)

  • thees doods are possibly the 2 ugluiest bloaques in the world

  • @jeflagoon Don't worry about these blokes, they don't claim to be models. If you're looking for some real studs, I suggest you go pick up a copy of Mens' Fitness magazine and beat off in a corner.

  • @Masowai what the fuck ?? go spread your gay shit on some faggot sight we dont want it.. fucking homo

  • Good video guys. Looks like you have a very cool job.

  • well done, my first impression was what do these clowns know about engines, then I thought wow a lot about distributors at least, but the camera one camera two takes reminded me of the Chevy Chase skits on the old (pronounced: funny) Saturday Night Live, SNL when he would turn to the wrong camera on purpose

  • @muszyngr You are not making any sense. Tell your dealer quit selling you bad cocaine. Drugs in you blood is running little rich. You are smoking.

  • Great video.I have a motorcycle but your explanation of timing was very helpful.

  • Hey you guys could sell me hot rod stuff for a Wisconsin engine that I really don't need. I enjoyed the intelligence that you both demonstrate. Cool hats too!

  • hey i have a small bock 350 it run good at idle an in drive but every time i put it in reverse it shut off what do u think is wrong

  • @TORIANO50 something might be pinched. check your shift linkage when you put it in reverse. either that or you might have a bad motor mount.

  • very imformitive.Well done guys.....:))

  • 1970 dodge challenger 440. Cam is a .484 lift. I read on some mopar sites it has to be at 38 degrees at 3000 rpm is that with the vac adv attached or disconnected?

  • nice video very informative thanks

  • very very very educational, excellent job gentleman!

  • 2010... Springs to set ignition timing...WTF

  • Great video, a tad over my head but taught me a few things, I have a jeep wrangler 4.0, I had a error code p300 random engine misfire coming up, I changed the plugs wires, rotor, and cap, it still misses from time to time, also my engine tends to run a tad hot when the ac is on, I believe it has to be my distributor ignition timing causing the problems i have it also idles a tad high at times n surges slightly, I replaced my water pump and thermostat plus a few. sensors

  • On my first car when I was driving somewhere if it felt short of power I would get out and advance the timing a bit. If later I found the engine was pinking, normally on a hot day, then I would get out and retard the timing a bit. I probably altered the timing more often than I altered the seat position.

  • Great video. I just learned a ton by watching this video.

  • Excellent video, thanks!

  • I have an 86 Chevy C-10. I just installed an Accel HEI distributor and I cant get it to fire up. I marked the postion of the rotor before I pulled the old distributor. I aligned the new rotor with my reference mark and the new distributor dropped in and seated to the intake perfectly. All of the wires are hooked up and the vaccum advance is is in the same position as the old one. The thing just wont fire. Do you have any suggestions? It is carbed by the way, I would appreciate any help.

  • Make sure all your firing order is correct. And that the distributor isn't 180 degrees off. Or advance enough to get it fired and then time accordingly.

  • @oyahduffman Thanks for the help. I was off so I adjusted it and she fired up. She is purring like a kitten now.

  • This is a great instructional video.

  • i would never know wat way to turn the dist cap!

  • the alluminum mounting brackets you provide with PN8226 " blaster coil " for SBC are too big . They move the coil forward and then it hits the intake runner for cylinder #7 and you cant bolt it down right also the the screws you provide are too long . not complaining , just putting it out there ...

  • Knowledgeable

  • Fantastic, informative, information. Well done!!!

  • Got my HEI from china for 45.00 new on e-bay for my chevy small block. Works as good as a MSD for about 1/6 the price.

  • @fiddlerpin You are full of pure shit... The only good thing about HEI is the fact that it is a complete package all in one... They can be built to perform but not as good as an MSD HEI... For the street... I prefer a 6A or a 6AL box with a hot coil.... HEI is for dirt track junk and granny wagons...

  • I may be full of it guttermouth, but I can spend the money I saved on better things!

    How do you know that a HEI is not as good as MSD. I guess you can actually see a sparkplug fire thousands of times a second! My reply was only an opinion and you blast me. FY

  • @fiddlerpin It's ok... I know that not everyone can be or is as intelligent as myself.... Trust me... It's ok...

  • It's OK YabbaZapperDoo Your a legend in your own mind. Enjoy the MSD I hope they pay you well

  • boo! get the good shit

  • Who cares about the good crap when you can do it for 45 bucks?

  • Love the vid. I got MSD 6AL,blaster 3 coil, MSD 9mm leads and PRO BILLET DIZZY on my 307 chev with Edelbrock rpm heads and a 750DP HP. 3000 rpm stall and 3.9 gears. The car is a HK GTS MONARO and weights 1300>1400 kg's. should I tighten the curve???

    Any help would be great.

    Thanks mate from Australia!

  • You should definitely tighten the curve a little bit.

  • Excellent Videos..!!

    Upload more please...!

  • Good video...but what do you do if you don't know what total timing should be? They said it should be between 34-36 on a sbc. What about for another engine. How do you find the best total and initial timing for any engine?

  • absolutely brilliant .... someone timed my 327 and has put it to sleep.?? now i can see what theyve done .dinlos.excellent and simply put over ,many thks

  • great video showed me every thing i need to know

  • I think MSD products are great and your

    video was very informative ..Thanks

    Tom

  • i have a 1972 k20 chevy truck. stock 02 chevy small block 350 with edelbrock performer intake and 650 edelbrock 4 barrel carburetor. hei electronic ignition.pretty much stock motor. what would i set the timing and total timing for bottom end to about 4000 rpm. good power curve

    thank you for all your help

  • hey i have small block 305 chevy , stock evrything , and when ever i try to adjust my spark timing , after i set my engine to tdc " 0 mark " @ idle i shut off my engine , connect my est plugg and start up again my engine advances itself 15 degrees and runs real rich " white smoke out of thetail pies" what am i doing wrong ?

  • Smoke out the tail pipes usually means its burning oil- Black smoke is usually a rich condition.

  • @MSDvideosdotcom blue smoke is oil, white smoke is antifreeze.

  • @catburner Static timing means "to install the distributor at the specified timing" as indicated on the emission sticker. When the timing pointer is at , say 12 deg. BTDC on the compression stroke, then install your distributor.

    You don't install the distributor at 0 deg.

  • @seapeddler my emissions sticker calls for 0* TDC , i set my#1 cyllinedr @ TDC on comp.stroke then i install dist. with rotor pointing @ # 1 cyllinder ,isthiswrong?

  • @catburner What yr. is the 305?

  • @seapeddler 1988 Lo3 sits  inside an F-body . TBI.

  • @catburner Try 8 deg. btdc, which is what the 1988 305 ( in the C1500 ) timing spec is. Install distributor only after the damper slot is aligned with 8 deg. btdc (compression stroke # 1 cyl.) When installed, the dist. rotor should point exactly at the # 1 cap terminal. Then tighten down and test with timing light. Should not harm engine.

  • @seapeddler done ! its too much advance , too much knoc for the 87 octane im running . did it have the c1500 have the samecam ? ,

  • @catburner Camaro uses Sealed Power CS793, and C1500 uses CS711.

    Difference there is. Anyway, the procedure I described, worked for my 300-6 motor.

    So, with TBI and perhaps a computer, things are different.

    Obviously, you have not removed the front chain cover and tampered with the crank/cam gear timing marks? Why the white smoke, I wonder...

    Intereseting problem, and I will continue to research, but I will probably be of no help. Isn't white smoke indicator of coolant leakage?

  • @seapeddler yes , i've been told by many that white smoke means coolant and black means rich , but my experience tells me different , my oil smells like gas and i get white smoke that smells like raw gas , horrible MPG's , the guys @ TGO.org are also helping diagnose this problem . no sollution yet.

  • @catburner white smoke is water, blue is oil, black is excessive fuel / rich mixture

  • @schrankm its a blown HG now know my smoke colors lol

  • @catburner

    White smoke can be anything from water vapor on a cold start to oil or antifreeze (water is ok, The oil can be a blown gasket or worn piston rings, antifreeze would be blown gasket). As for the advance what carb and distributor is hooked up, If its vacuum advance make sure you have it attached to correct vacuum port. on alot of engines you dont want full manifold vacuum on the advance.

  • @Lokivoid  it is a TBI fuelinjected setup , turns out after a HG is still blew smoke out of the exhaust , its coolant burning and it kills my o2 sensor and throws of the AFR , my heads might be warped .

  • @catburner

    Unusual for heads to warp unless you did some major mods to the block, Most common cause for that would be over torqueing bolts or not following the tightening sequence. Get a radiator detect kit and see if it shows anthing if it does I would recheck the head and intake gaskets to make sure it had a proper seal, If they line up fine then ya could be a warp. If not check the PCV system, and scan for any emission codes related to the smog pump or EGR

  • Thanks for the video. I have been trying to adjust my ignition timing forever. I have to run my idle really high in order to keep vehicle running? Could it be because my ignition timing is off? Or could it be another reason? (92 Mitsubishi Mighty Max) Thanks for any help.

  • is this a carbed application or fuel injected?

  • koay i bought a 6al with pro billet and blue blaster and it worked sweet but recently  i picked up a 307 impala with no carb or distributor so i looked on the net and ended up buying a streetfire ignition because it was guaranteed by you msd and it was cheap now ive fitted it double checked and triple checked the initial and played with the advance it tries to run but if i give it gas it backfires like an animal,also fitted with brand new holley do you guys get many returns of these

  • great video! thanks

  • now cani use this to set my timing i dont run a msd dis i use my stock hei on my 84 firebird it has a 87-95 350 2 bolt main 1 peice realmain seal i have no idea what car it came out of and what year it is the surfix cade is v0103arh i just cant finde out what arh is

  • Yes this is how to set your timing.. If your car is stock and not using a aftermarket dizzy then you will not need to switch any springs out..

  • Fan-flippin'-tastic job.

  • What causes run on, besides low octane.

    retarded or advanced timing? I just had my timing set 3 weeks ago, (84 g20 van) quadrajet carb, and it is pining and running on. I might try an octane boost now gas prices are rising again.

  • Try pulling back on the timing it might have just a bit too much advance.

  • @MSDvideosdotcom Hi,there.Is it fine to use a light spring and a medium spring together for the curve kit.

  • @MSDvideosdotcom what would you suggest for timing on a sbc without vaccum advance? vaccum advance on mine is broken but centrifugal advance still works. right now ive got it set at about 13 degrees

  • @1pick2sticks  Make sure that your idle speed is properly adjusted.

  • that was a good vid..finally i understand the whole timing process.. Thanks Gents!

  • i have a 90 ford bronco and it say's to disconnect a plug first do you guys know the procedure to timing a 90 Bronco with a 5.0

  • There is a spout connector that you need to disconnect before you time a 5.0 engine. Its usually nearby the TFI harness. If your having difficulty, please call one of our techs for assistance: MSD Tech Line: 915-855-7123

  • Sounds like its detonating-have you tried putting in premium and see if it does the same. You should probably knock back the timing a few degrees and see if that helps.

  • hey guys...im having some timing problems with my 78 trans am, the car rattles and pings under hard acceleration and seems to get worse as the engine gets hotter....any suggestions...thnaks

  • Pinging occurs when ignition is happing too early in the compression stroke, basically your engine is trying to reverse it's self.

    Try using higher octane fuel &/or retard your timing a degree or two.

  • Very informative video.

  • If the car is rattling or pining, you might want to retard the timing (knock it back to 8-10 degrees) and see if that helps.

  • thanks for this video just what i was looking for.noone else in youtube shows exactly how timing works you guys r cool.btw i wanna time a 90 mustang 5.0 is it cool to set it at 12 degrees although factory says 10 .? or is it better at 10? witch one would make it run better 10 or 12 ? reason is the car rattles and pings and has poor power to me it sounds like bad timing, my mothers new kia runs way better right now lol. its a automatic and the motor is very good .thanks alot .

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