Timing/Tuning question, urgent

[baccaruda]

So I am going to Seattle with Skeet's wagon tomorrow.

It's an 87 carbureted with an SPFI long block and the emissions stuff on the back of the block removed with a weber in mind somewhere in the future.

 

I was doing some last minute tuning tonight (car's only been running for like a week) including finally installing the thermostat(180deg) and it pings like a b******. I have a tank of regular gas in it and tonight added a bottle of octane booster and topped it off with 4.5 gallons of premium tonight, but I don't know if it's even found its way to the carb yet.

I don't know what the timing's set at because the timing light I borrowed from my dad is broken ..

 

I had the distributor turned all the way counterclockwise because it was easiest to start that way before it started running better and I put the good exhaust on (that helped a lot!). It would ping when I had the pedal about floored, and over 3000-3500 rpms.

I've turned it a little clockwise to advance it but it only seems to be pinging easier? If I have it advanced too much can that also cause ping?

I took it on the freeway up the Big Hill west of town on the way home tonight and it was pretty gutless. 35 in 3rd and I had to take it easy so it didn't ping too much.

 

Should I:

-remove the thermostat?

-retard the timing?

-give up and rent a car to go get Skeet? or make him rent one to come here

-something else?

 

I won't have too much time to play with this tomorrow before I am supposed to leave...

[calebz]

I would start by retarding the timing a bit. Having it advanced too far can(will) cause it to ping. The spfi block uses higher compression than the carb block, correct?

 

Timing with no light,

 

Advance timing until it pings under load.. Then retard it little by little until it doesn't ping anymore(under load/acceleration)

That should put you somewhere into a happy medium provided all fuel/ignition sytems are functioning properly

[baccaruda]

Hi Caleb. correct about the compression; i forgot to mention that in my fatigue.

What do you think about the power loss?

thanks.

 

others please feel free to reply.. not knocking yours, Caleb, but time is of the essence and I need as much feedback as possible here... this has very much been a learn-as-i-go thing. thanks again.

[TomRhere]

What Caleb says works, and is my chosen method of setting timing, especially on older high mileage cars. On another note, the engine in my '82 is a carbed engine, but the hold-down bolt for the disty is just to the left of center in the slot. I have to set the timing "by ear", and by the "no more pinging" methods, due to the engine having a re-drilled EA-81 flywheel instead of the EA-82 one. Everything is off, timing marks, no T-belt marks ("FUN"), what have you. Just asking here, are you sure the T-belts are right, as in proper cam timing? Reason for asking is, I had mine off a bit, she'd start and run, but didn't like to rev up to well. Just my .02 worth..................

[baccaruda]

Hi Tom. I am sure the timing belts are GTG. It runs smoothly except for this problem, and I was super paranoid about doing the belts right. thanks! your car sounds like it's been a project!

[Guest taprackready]

You've advanced the timing to much. All that pinging (pre-ignition)will not produce power and thats why it feels gutless. If you drop the timing back until it does not ping you and the engine will be much happier.

 

Bill

[NoahDL88]

if you took the disty out when you did the belts you may have put it in a tooth ahead, if you didn't make sure that the green connector under the hood is distconected, its near the fuel filter, it will ping all day and night if thats still connected