total ignition timing

can someone settle an argument for me please. my friend says that total ignition timing is read with a dial back timing light as what the light reads plus the initial static timing ive always thought that whatever the total on the timing light read was the total can someone please clear this up for us. thanks

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Originally Posted by michaelmrc

can someone settle an argument for me please. my friend says that total ignition timing is read with a dial back timing light as what the light reads plus the initial static timing ive always thought that whatever the total on the timing light read was the total can someone please clear this up for us. thanks

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The total advance would be the initial advance plus the vacuum and mechanical systems all in. It is easiest read with a dialback becuase mose cars don't have that many degrees marked out on the damper or marker.

I have always checked it with a dial back. I pull the vacuum hose and plug it with a golf tee. Check initial timing. Usually around 8-12 on my Chevy's. Then I put the vacuum hose back on and rev to about 3,000 rpm (usually all timing is in by then, but sometimes not) and take a reading there by dialing the timing light till the timing mark is at "0" on the balancer. That number on the dial is now my total timing. Usually is 32 to 36. Again, this is on a small block Chevy. Has always worked for me.

The number on the dial is the total, not the additional timing to the initial advance.

thanks everyone for clearing that up.

ha denny your back good to hear from you we thought bill sent you to live with jimmy hoffa LOL ted