I just got my motor running and put a timing light on it and its reading way off. I have a pro billet mechanical advance distributor. The engine runs good and is responsive. Its a sbc by the way. It also starts good. But the timing is reading 58 degrees idling. Am I over looking something? Maybe a faulty timing light?  

Did you think you may have the distributor in that far off?

Using a different light couldn't hurt, call up a buddy...

Vacuum advances can add quite a bit of initial timing too you know. Do you have a cannister? If you do, is it connected?  

No I dont have vacuum advance. It is a mechanical advance. I have it set up with 25 degrees advance all in at 3000 rpm according with the spring chart in the instructions that came with the distributor. I wouldnt think that it could even run, much less run good with the timing that far off. I havnt taken it for a drive yet to see how it does. I want to correct this problem first. But it revs good with no spark knock and fires up with just the touch of the key. I've been wanting a good timing light anyway so I just bought one from Matco. I'm working 12 hr midnights so it may be a day or two before I can check it again but I will post the results. Thanks alot.  

Well I checked my timing again today with a new light and got the same readings. 58 Degrees... Could cam timing cause this? The machine shop was suppose to degree the cam. I have the Comp Cams belt drive. Could it be a tooth off? What about the harmonic balancer? I have a Professional Products SFI approved balancer with engraved marks up to 60 degrees and then marked every 90 degrees. Could it be marked wrong or the keyway clocked wrong? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks  

Now, you think about this for a second. How could the CAM being phased differently with the CRANK change how that little gear on the back turns the distributor.

Turn the distributor back! clockwise!  

Okay I got to fool with my engine a little today. I got it down to about 25 degrees after tuning on the carb a little. It is running very rich. Anything below 25 degrees kills the engine at idle. I know Gib is going to lower the boom on me but I am running a 1050 dominator. TOO MUCH carb but I figured it would work for a little while till I could do better. Only reason I have it is because it came with the motor when I bought it before I rebuilt it and turned it into a street motor.



Okay now, could the cause of the high timing be because of having to compensate for an overly rich condition?  

It is only logical that with all that added air getting in (even at idle) that the engine would need a lot of timing to compensate.  

Hey guys, I got my timing issue worked out. I bought a new intake and borrowed a buddy's carb and now she runs like a champ! So it was the 1050 dominator that caused all of my problems. Thanks for the help.