Hi Bob. Sounds like you are on the right track to dialing in the
engine. I used a dyno tuner and he was able to get 40 hp more at the
rear tires. I am only at 34 degrees total advance, but will play with
it later. The 40 hp gain was at a max rpm of 5200 rpm, as the rev
limiter on the MSD was cutting out at that point, but the torque and hp
were starting to reach their max so getting close to max on this
essentially stock internal engine.
One thing that most people don't do is find true TDC on the engine, so
any reading is not a true advance, but relative reading. Some cars are
off by 2-5 degrees as set by the factory.
If you want to find the true TDC, it's easy.
1. Make an engine stop out of an old spark plug with the electrode
knocked out and a bolt welded in place. This acts as a stop for the piston.
2. Put the plug/stop in #1 cylinder, with the other plugs out, so that
it is easy to turn the engine over by hand.
Note - DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER WITH THE STARTER, unless you want to
put in a new piston.
3. Turn the engine over till it touches the plug/stop, and mark the dampener.
4. Turn in the other direction, and cut the distance in half.
5. This will be close to where TDC is marked on the dampener. All of
the engines I have done have been off by 1-2 degrees.
6. I used a new timing tape from Summit, cleaned the damper, after
using a cold chisel to permanently mark true TDC, aligned the tape, and
I am finished.
Be sure to use a tape that matches you dampener. You can check, as the
distance between degrees on the tape and the damper should be the same.
Also some timing marks are on the timing pointer, but you can use the
tape on the dampener, and the sharp end of the pointer as your mark.
I am intrigued with the GMeter selling for $140. It lets you know
acceleration instantly on your car, and you can measure the difference
in each change to the engine.
Also tell you other information like lateral acceleration, and stopping
g's. Claims to be very accurate, and articles in the mags give it high marks.
Anyone use it yet?
Good luck.
Larry
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