Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt
Do you by any chance have an MSD ignition box?
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If you have an MSD or any other multi-spark ignition boxe, your timing light will "read" each time the # 1 plug fires.....or in the case of an MSD box with your engine idling, you'll "read" 3 times the actual timing becuase of the three sparks per cycle...........
Not all timing lights do this, but I bought a new "digital" timing light a few weeks ago and it reads triple at idle, at 3000 rpms,it reads the exact correct timing I have in my motor............on the box it specifically said "compatible with multi-sparks ignitions", one reason I bought it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I first built the motor I was using a Ford Durapsark distributor and ignition box and once I had my base/total timing where I wanted it, I marked the distributor flange and the block lightly with a small chisel,that way if I have to remove the distributor and re-install it, I know exactly where it goes with #1 at TDC......but my timing light says its at 30 degress instead of 10 degrees where it should be, exactly 3 times the real timing value, rev it up and after 2000 or so rpms, MSD will only fire once per cycle and my timing goes to 32 degrees total timing............
Not all timing lights will do this, but most will...........
David