Rep Power: 786

Im gonna be changing my distributor and will have to reset the timing on my car. what should i set it to? is there a round about # for advance that will make the car run better? i have a 90 350tpi auto

 
Rep Power: 820

8 advanced sounds about right. I really dont remember at all how far you can set it forward maybe arch can jump in but you shouldnt have any problems with 8 degrees advance.

 
Rep Power: 1121

8 sounds right, what I normally do is start from where the sticker under the hood says and go slight advances until performance drops then go back

 
Rep Power: 820

Or you can do it the way us with out timing marks on our front cover do it. Advance a lil and rev the motor all the way up to where it makes power. Keep advancing it until it pings. Then retard a lil

 
Rep Power: 786

so say i go 6 advanced the would be playing it safe right?

 
Rep Power: 820

I say 8 would be safe but if u wanna go 6 go 4 it.

 
Rep Power: 786

thanks for the info

 
Rep Power: 820

I do what i can

 
Rep Power: 786

? how do you do the timing adjustement with the distributor? My mechanic is telling me that you cant adjust the timing to increase performance with my distributor. I dont want to take it to another shop to do it so wondering if i can do it myself. I have a 350 tpi 90 camaro with a computer controlled engine. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 820

You have a timing gun?

P.S. get a new mechanic

 
Rep Power: 1121

disconnect the little brown wire at the distributor and turn the distributor (yes get a mechanic that knows what he's talking about instead of talking out his ***)

 
Rep Power: 786

well it was actually the owner that was telling me you couldnt do it like that, the mechanics are pretty cool. I actually went to school with one of them but i didnt get a chance to speak to them. im sure they know what to do, i was just wondering in case of anything. thanks though.

 
Rep Power: 786

Well changed the distributor and the car is still running like sh*t, doing the same thing. Starts up fine when cold but as soon as it warms up the idle jumps around and car starts cutting off when you drive it . I have no idea what the hell is wrong with this thing its been out of commission for a month.

 
Rep Power: 820

Did you install it correctly? Did you use a timing gun?

 
Rep Power: 1121

have you checked teh timing chain? it could be bad (they used nylon covered gears that let teh chain jump)