What should the timing be set at on a Chevy 350?

Setting the Timing on a Chevy 350
Setting the timing on a Chevy 350 involves adjusting the distributor to ensure proper ignition timing for optimal engine performance. Here’s how you can do it:
Adjusting the Timing Without a Timing Light:
In an emergency situation, you can advance the distributor until the engine starts to ping under load, then back the distributor off slightly until the pinging stops.
Adjusting Distributor Timing:
You can change the timing by flipping the distributor housing in one direction or the other, depending on whether you want to move the timing forward or back. Turning the distributor counterclockwise will advance the timing if the rotor is rotating clockwise, and vice versa.
Recommended Idle RPM for Chevy 350:
The idle timing for a Chevy 350 is likely around 700 RPM, but as it warms up, it will increase to 1200 RPM or more.
Timing Recommendations for Chevy 350:
Starting out with 12 degrees of initial advance is generally recommended, but the total advance should be limited to around 36-37 degrees.
Additional Tips:
– Remember that when you need to change the timing, the distributor should be rotated clockwise to escalate and counterclockwise to decelerate.
– It’s possible to set the timing by ear at idle, but adjustments may be needed as you approach the advance.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Chevy 350 operates at its peak performance with the right ignition timing.

What is bad ignition timing?

Ignition timing is an important process when it comes to running an engine. If the spark plug fires too soon or too late during the compression stroke, damage to the engine can occur over time. During the process, the following steps occur: The spark plug fires during the compression stroke.

How do I know if my engine timing is correct?

Your engine’s performance should be as smooth as a ballroom dance, but if you notice it stumbling, stuttering, or emitting an irregular rhythm, it might be a telltale sign of timing trouble. Misfires are like the misplaced steps of a dancer, disrupting the fluidity of your engine’s performance.

What should a Chevy 350 idle at?

Re: At what RPM does your 350 SBC idle? 350/ TH350 idles at about 550 in park, and 400 in drive with A/C on.

What should timing be on SBC 350?

In most cases starting out with 12 degrees of initial advance is about right. However, that may result too much total advance, which should be limited to around 36-37 degrees so the distributor’s advance curve may have to be altered. How that is done will depend on the distributor you use.

How do you know if your timing is too far advanced?

Clues that the timing is too advanced would be hard cranking, the engine tries to kick back when cranking, rough idle can be caused by too much advance, and detonation is another sign of too much advance.

What is the minimum best timing?

MBT stands for ‘Maximum Brake Torque Timing’, also referred to as ‘Minimum Best Timing’ – this is the optimum ignition angle to create maximum engine torque.

What is a bad idle rpm?

Typically, engines idle at about 600-800 rpm. Older engines may go up to 1200 rpm or more while warming up. But if the engine is revving up while idling, even after it’s sufficiently warmed up, you might have a problem. High idle speeds waste fuel, cause extra wear and tear on your engine, and can be unsafe as well.

How do I know if my timing is too advanced?

Clues that the timing is too advanced would be hard cranking, the engine tries to kick back when cranking, rough idle can be caused by too much advance, and detonation is another sign of too much advance.

What should timing advance be at idle?

Secondly we need to choose an idle ignition timing, and there is no set-in-stone rule for what this must be. After tuning thousands of different engines, I find that most engines will idle nicely with ignition advance in the 15 to 20 degree vicinity so this is where I’d suggest starting out.

What should engine timing be set at?

between 34 and 36 degrees
When in doubt, total timing should be somewhere between 34 and 36 degrees. A typical small-block Chevy’s timing curve needs to be set somewhere in this range for maximum performance, when the engine is being revved at 3500 RPM. At this point, the timing should stop advancing and should remain steady.