ok i broke in my cam with 100lbs springs like the instructions said. and then replaced them with the springs that i'm suppose to run 385lbs. runnin a solid lifter cam all valves set at .026" 54 cc heads, headers, 350 block, edelbrock air gap intake and 670 holley street avenger. i started the motor to set the timing. For some reason the only way to see the timing mark on the balancer is if i set my light to 40 degrees advance at a idle ok i know this is way to high it suppose to be around 12 or so..but if i retard the engine it sounds like crap and i can't keep the idle going. also for some reason i am hear a strange knock sound coming from the tail pipes. Also when i pop the motor from idle or just above idle it will back fire thru the carburetor ( not under load). i check all wires for proper firing order. any suggestions to fix this?

 

when you retard your timing you have to increase the idle screw.

did you top dead center and line the timing mark up?

 

What vacuum source is your vac advance on the distributor hooked up to, ported or full manifold? If manifold vacuum, you're advancing your timing a bit at idle and you need to disconnect the hose before setting your base timing. If you have mechanical advance, your issue could be with the weights and/or springs kicking the advance in too soon.

 

no i didn't stan. and of course i should never assume but i just assumbed that the groove that is on the harmonic balancer was suppose to be tdc i never double checked to make sure that was accurate.

Camaro 69. i didn't have the vacuum hose connected to the distributor it was blocked off. i was not planning on using the vacuum advance anyways due to the fact my motor is in a dirt track race car and will not be driven on the street at all. the weights and springs are the origanal ones that came with the distributor. the distributor is a msd streetfire no ignition box. should i change out the springs and weights??

 

I wouldn't start messing with that yet. It's possible you may have the wrong harmonic dampener (some have the notch in a different clocked position), or the outer ring may have slid around. Do you know how to find your true #1 TDC using a piston stop?

 

no i have done with with a screw driver. i stuck in the sparkplug hole when i know i am on the compression stroke turned the motor by hand till i see the screwdriver top and then start to go back to down. the turn the motor back just a little bit where that lull is between it stopping at top and goin back down.

 

Ok, and at that point, TDC on the pointer pretty much lines up with the notch on the dampener?

 

yes the notch is really close to the pointer

 

From your first post "if i set my light to 40 degrees advance".... I take it you're using a dial back timing light.
Have you checked with a conventional timing light to make sure the problem isn't with the dial back?

 

you know i didn't even think about that.. i will check in the morning thanks camaro