What should the timing be on a Pontiac V-8?

It’s an excellent piece that’s ideal for tailoring vacuum advance to provide peak engine efficiency at idle and part throttle. I recommend it above all others. For a naturally aspirated Pontiac V-8, I recommend a base (or initial) timing anywhere between 10 and 15 degrees.

What is the firing order on a Pontiac?

The firing order on all Pontiac motors is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. The best place to start the adjustment process is to begin with the #1 cylinder. Whether you are building a new motor, swapping in a cam, or adding other upper valve train components, start with the #1 cylinder.

What kind of springs do I need for my Pontiac V-8?

The Adjustable Vacuum Advance kit from Crane includes a variety of advance-curve springs as well as a serrated limited plate and vacuum adjustment tool. It’s an excellent piece that’s ideal for tailoring vacuum advance to provide peak engine efficiency at idle and part throttle.

How do you change the timing of a crankshaft?

Using a wrench or socket on the crankshaft bolt rotate the engine until the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley is aligned with the 0° mark on the timing scale. Verify the distributor rotor is aligned with the index mark on the distributor housing indicating the rotor is in position to fire the number one cylinder.

What should the engine temperature be in a Pontiac?

Cooling has long been an issue in performance enhanced gasoline combustion engines. We recommend engine temperatures not in excess of 180 degrees (F). The cooling system in your pontiac engine is very simple consisting of only a pump, thermostat, fan, and radiator.

Which is the best advance curve for a Pontiac V-8?

A mechanical advance curve that provides 20 to 24 degrees of additional advance can provide the optimal amount of total spark lead required for peak performance. Some trial and error will be required to find the exact amount your Pontiac runs best with.

What to do if you have a jumped timing chain?

Place the vehicle in park with the emergency brake set. Start the engine but be sure the battery has a full charge and is operating at peak performance. Note the speed at which the engine tries to start, comparing it with a normal start condition. An engine with a jumped timing chain will show signs of very sluggish and slow starting.

What happens when a timing chain has jumped two teeth?

An engine with a jumped timing chain will show signs of very sluggish and slow starting. This happens because the firing sequence is retarded due to a chain that has jumped a tooth. A chain that has jumped two or more teeth may not start at all. Step 2

When do you change ignition base idle timing?

Typically, when your car comes from the manufacturer, ignition base idle timing is set to a manufacture specification before top dead center. The timing advances as the engine’s speed accelerates, however, resulting in a variable that will need to be periodically adjusted using a timing light.

What should I do if my timing is wrong on my Pontiac 400?

Not only does this make timing the engine nearly impossible, it can also be dangerous. A damper with this problem can fly apart at any time. If this is the case with your damper, you should replace it immediately. On most V8 engines, timing is checked on the #1 cylinder because it is the first in the firing order.

What was the initial timing on a Pontiac 389?

Initial timing was 8-12 degrees and top was 34-38 degrees. Depended on what I was doing with the car. bfmgoalie is right on.

What do I need to adjust the timing on my car?

Your timing must be at the correct setting for your car to perform at top level, affecting the speed and efficiency at which the engine fires. You can adjust your car’s timing with a timing light and a set of wrenches, tools available at any auto parts store.

What’s the best way to advance the timing of an engine?

Set the distributor to fire at the top (this is considered 0 degrees advance/retarded). If you want to advance/retard timing, turn the crank an angle amount equal to what you want, or place a timing tape and use a timing light. The timing of an engine comes from the angle of the crankshaft that the spark plug fires before/after. Thanks!

What should the timing be on a Pontiac?

This would mean that if I set the timing at 10 degrees the maximum mechanical would be a mere 22 degrees. Yikes, not where it should be. I wanted to see 36 degrees total for this engine and I wanted the curve to be responsive from 1200 rpms up.

How to improve Pontiac V-8 performance, tuning guide?

You can copy and paste this link to share: https://www.pontiacdiy.com/how-to-improve-pontiac-v-8-performance-tuning-guide/ Engine tuning is a time-consuming process that’s required to achieve peak performance. It generally includes swapping carburetor jets and adjusting the distributor to advance or retard spark timing.

What’s the total number of degrees on a Pontiac?

Total number of degrees was 12. This would mean that if I set the timing at 10 degrees the maximum mechanical would be a mere 22 degrees. Yikes, not where it should be. I wanted to see 36 degrees total for this engine and I wanted the curve to be responsive from 1200 rpms up.

Like all PONTIAC engines since 1955, the firing order sets is: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, all by turning it counterclockwise. Note that the cylinder number 1 is the next driver in front of the engine (the same location on all V-engines) or just the first behind the power steering pump.

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