engine timing etc.

[newb70f250camper]

I have no manual i need the timing and plug gap for 1970 360 motor stupid question i know can not find manual anywhere any help. thanks

[fordman]

6 before and .035 . the 6 before can be up to 12 if you have to. that is because most worn engines there is a increase in timing needs.

[willowbilly3]

Also remember the timing specs were established a long time ago when fuel composition was much different.

[green68250]

Yeah I run my 390 at 10 and my 300 at close to 14. It seems like a lot and it is but she always starts right up and doesn't ping so I guess its all good.

[Dragon]

Yeah I run my 390 at 10 and my 300 at close to 14. It seems like a lot and it is but she always starts right up and doesn't ping so I guess its all good.

Same here on the 390 12 was too much with lousy premium and my Dad's 240 got set to 14 after several runs in the 1/4 mile. The truck gained .5 of a second until it got above 14.

71 book specs for 360 6 BTDC
Vacuum advance 10 1/2 degrees @ 25 inches of mercury
Mechanical Advance 14 cam degrees at 2500 rpm or 28 dizzy degrees
So while you are floored you only have 34 degrees total on an engine that runs in the 42 to 48 range for best performance. Setting the dizzy on 8.4 to 1 compression engines to 12 initial gets you 40 and that works well.

High compression Iron Headed FEs in the Hey day of their life ran as high as 52 on 13 to 1 motors.

[fastEdsel]

I just installed a Pertonix ignition on the GT390 in my Edsel and can't seem to get the timing set. The book says 6BTC but is not specifically clear as to whether to disconnect the vacuum line on the dizzy and plug it off to fine tune it to 6 degrees. Compression is consistant at 180 pounds on all eight and I do run premium fuel. Should I disconnect the vacuum line to time this engine?

[Dragon]

Always disconnect the vacuum and cap it so the engine does not have a vacuum leak while timing.

[fastEdsel]

Thank You Dragon and I will try that! What happenned was, I had this 1968 390 engine rebuilt to factory specs. It ran good and strong but always had a dead spot on accelerating from a stop or just to plain speed up. Turned out it was the rebuilt dizzy that had a vacuum leak on the advance diaphram. So I installed another dizzy and the rebuilders gave me full warranty on their mistake and then I installed the Pertonix into the new dizzy. Great spark but still pinging in the engine. The timing was all over the place. I will disconnect the vacuum line, re-time it and if it all works well, I will go and hunt Camaros this weekend. The other night I passed a Duramax who thought he couldn't be passed by and Edsel so he stuck his foot right into the injector pump. I clocked myself at 116MPH, according to the speedo, and still ahead of the GM but in a pack of cars. The cop had his lights on, saw me and probably thought it couldn't be the "old guy" so I pulled off at the first intersection, turned around and headed back to the barn. Just fun stuff. Thanks again for the info!

[willowbilly3]