timing help

[olblue2]

ok guys need help figuring out if i have my distributor off a tooth.  got new rebuilt engine running in my 1977 but when warm and i put timing light on it its showing the mark about an inch above the timing scale. or so the mark is straight up on top when idiling,  problem is it starts so dang good i mean u dont even have to harldy hit the starter and its running. and it doesnt ping or diesel.   i have the distributor set were it runs best at when looking at the distributor the vaccum advance canister is about a half inch from hitting the manifold.  what i mean is its set pretty far forward not sure if thats adavnced or retarded?    i borrowed a guys light and it had digital advance and when i moved the button on light to advance mark to about 10 degree on scale the light was showing 14 degrees?

helppppp?

[Donut]

First off, is TDC correct?  If your timing marks are off, the light doesn't do you much good.
Is the 14' with the vacuum disconnected and plugged?  Or does that include the vacuum?

1977, I'm assuming it's an HEI.
Which post on the cap are you using for no 1?  Mine is 1st post clockwise from the tach/bat "notch".

IMO if it runs good and your not having any problems, run it.  I asked about the post on the cap, because the distributor doesn't really care which one is no.1 as long as the firing order is right.  If you wanted your vacuum canister closer to the firewall you MIGHT be able to move your wires back 1 post each, then rotate the distributor so no.1 is back at no.1.  This would depend on how much room you have etc.  (I believe my '73 had less room to the firewall as it's converted from points.) If you don't have enough room to do the wire dance, time to re-stab the dist.

I'm currently at 14' advanced on mine, vacuum disconnected (checked today while trying to figure out my mechanical advance curve).  I don't have emissions to deal with, so I don't know how timing would affect that.

This is how mine is running.  If I'm blatantly wrong, someone please correct me.

[Lt.Del]

donut is right.  No matter where the distributor points.  I usually take all of my plug wires completely off when I mess with the distributor, then just start any place for #1 and follow the firing order from there, so long as the vacuum advance is in a comfortable place.  Just make sure you point the distr. rotor to the correct piston (where you think that plug # will be once you attach all wires) where your engine stopped when you drop distr. in.  

As for the timing tab being off, it could be the marks themselves....they made so many different variations of these.  The marker tab could be off a different motor or something.  I wouldn't worry about what it says as long as the engine runs great w/ no pings when stomping on the gas.

Just ensure you plug the vacuum line at the advance diaphram when checking timing.  Set idle down to about 750 rpms or so.  No AC on etc...  

[Jim Rockford]

yea, you could have a balancer from a later engine with the timing mark under the water pump instead off off to the side like the old ones. Advance it till its hard to start then back it off, then test drive it and see if you get any pinging,  if so , keep backing it off slightly till it stop pinging. tighten it down.