Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackmamba
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone could advise me on what the correct timing should be ford a Ford 351 Windsor with Edelbrock headers and carbs?
Many thanks,
Alex
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proper timing consists of two parts, and sometimes a third.
Base timing is set with the engine at idle. Turn the distributer until you get the highest vacuum reading. If you don't have a vacuum gauge, place a glass of water on the cowl, and set the timing where the water is smoothest.
Then when the engine is hot, turn the engine off, and then start it again. If it seems to struggle a bit, it's too much advance. Back it off a couple of degrees until it starts smoothly.
Mechanical Advance is the second part, and is part of the internal mechanism of the distributor. Most Windsors do well with a total of about 34*, all in by about 2,500-3,000 rpm's or so. Whatever your base timing is, subtract that from 34, and set your mechanical advance there.
Then go drive the car. Do some part and full throttle accelerations to 3,500 rpm's in 4th gear. If you get any knocking, back off the mechanical timing a couple of degrees.
The third part is vacuum advance. That is mostly to improve fuel mileage at light throttle cruise. Most performance distributers do not include this.