360Rocket

So if there is anyone out there learning about tuning old cars at my expense, here is another fun fact for you. Vacuum advance is NOT included in total timing and you DO need to keep your vacuum advance hooked up and I'll copy and paste the reason why: Now connect the vacuum advance from the carburetor to the distributor and read the timing on the harmonic balancer while revving the engine to 2,800 rpm. This number will now be greater than 34 degrees with the addition of the vacuum advance. Let’s say it now reads 49 degrees, which would mean the vacuum advance is worth another 15 degrees. These are typical numbers. First, let’s look at the mechanical advance portion of the timing—the 34 degrees total. This is determined by the weights and springs spinning around inside the distributor. This establishes the amount of timing the engine will see at wide open throttle (WOT). As you are probably aware, at part throttle the engine will create a certain amount of vacuum in the intake manifold. This is because the throttle is mostly closed and the engine is pulling against this restriction. Because the throttle is mostly closed, very little air is moving into the cylinders. So at light cruise, such as running down the highway, the engine is making much less power than it would at this same rpm at WOT. With less air and fuel in each cylinder, the air-fuel mixture is not as densely packed compared to WOT. This less-dense mixture requires more ignition timing to complete the combustion because it takes longer to complete the combustion process. So we need a way to increase the amount of timing based on the load on the engine. This is how vacuum advance works. At part throttle, high manifold vacuum moves the diaphragm in the vacuum advance canister on the distributor to add more timing. But at WOT, the vacuum drops to near zero and vacuum advance is removed and the total timing then is established by the initial plus the mechanical advance. So there are significant advantages to retaining the vacuum advance on your distributor.

I think this car has endless or bottomless floorboards. Prepping the driver side floors, framerails and cross member and getting ready to spray some paint this week. I've only got under the mufflers left after this.

C'mon man, really? When you can advertise on TV "Take $13K off the sticker price today" or $9K off MSRP" imagine what they must be making in profit? Plus there are hundreds of websites and phone apps that can educate you on what are cars true value is.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-sports/2019-chevrolet-corvette-will-enter-production-on-january-29-2018-report-says/ar-AAtEzSY?li=BBnb4R5

Steve, I've been in 2 (i think) calendars now? Time to give others a chance to be in the calendar.

I agree Frosty but the nice thing about mixing the cars in one calendar shows Pontiac unity, no matter the year, model, etc. We are all Pontiac.

I can throw in some past rides of mine.......just for fun.

Well she's now dialed in to @36 to 38 degrees total timing and running fairly smooth. I tried to get it down to 32 degrees but I just couldn't get the engine to smooth out and give me a good idle. Feel like I got the idle mixture screws and idle where it needs to be. I need to let her completely sit and cool and then start it again to see how the cold start characteristics work out. I wouldn't think that the timing, or mixture screws would effect cold start and I wouldn't think I would need to re adjust the electric choke either? Thoughts? Oh and I guess they don't make timing tape like they used to. after about 20 minutes of the engine running while I was tuning the tape melted and came flying off in 2 pieces. lol.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/classic-cars/this-pristine-1979-pontiac-trans-am-has-traveled-just-65-miles-since-new/ar-AAtfaK1

ouch ouch ouch, that's hard story to tell. So I "think" this will be an easy fix as soon as I get another timing tape sticker on the pulley. The car was running perfectly except for the top end pinging so now that I have discovered the HEI throwing so much advance at my total timing. I also will measure the diameter of my balancer to make sure I am using the correct timing tape as well. last fix I took the car for a quick spin and it felt real strong but when I shut it off and attempted to rerstart, it was struggling to start which should mean I have too much initial advance now. I hope to have it wrapped up sometime this week and then back on to restoring the bottom half of the car again. I'm also trying to get a bead on some 15X8 rally 2's for sale so I can widen the foot pattern on the back tires. Spinnin' ain't winnin' they say.

And Frosty, I too right these days am in the mindset of pay it forward more so than in years gone by. I was in my work vehicle the other day and passed an elderly lady who was broke down in the middle of a busy intersection and mulled over the situation because I was in a work vehicle and if they knew I did what I was about to do I would most likely be out of a job. Well me being me, I turned around and got that lady back up and running and on her way. Her truck had no water, no oil, and a loose battery terminal but we were able to resource the things we needed. think its time for the world to change its thought process from the self centered selfish reality TV lifestyle and star lending a helping hand to those around them. My goals at life at this moment have shifted from wealth and gathering more toys to simplifying my life and helping those around me more.

Car is still running like crap but I am closing in on it. So with some research I've learned that my HEI between vacuum and mechanical is accounting for a total of about 35 degrees advance. With an initial timing of now 12 degrees a total of 50+ degrees of timing. Way too much. So I have capped off the vacuum advance and the car is running much stronger and I heard no pinging. I still don't know total timing as the timing tape I applied the other day fell off somehow on my way to work today. I need to get a new tape to confirm total timing and then the idle mixture screws and idle itself is kicking my ass. I'm trying to set those using a vacuum gauge with no luck so far.

So this is for Last Indian, thought I would make a quick video showing your timing gun back in service once again in order to make a happy Pontiac owners car just that much faster. Thank you again.

Hey Joe Carrier! This is for you...what is it with Pontiac fanatics and their closet fascination with Corvettes? My daily driver!

So, I'm gonna say this and I haven't had the opportunity to say this since I was blessed by Justa a couple of years ago. I'M SPEECHLESS !!! I got a box today that I wasn't expecting so soon, I opened the box to find not only a Craftsman timing gun but an added bonus that I've never held in my hands before or used but knew about and have been intrigued by how to properly use one. A dwell meter! Now most of you don't know this but may also have this newfound addiction....as I grow older, I find myself loving collecting old things like, car parts, signage, and OMG especially old tools! INDIAN? You've put a huge grin on my face and really made my weekend! I know its the simple things right? Now I am already geeked out by the timing gun but I'm over the moon with the original boxes and instruction manuals and patina on the items that you sent me. If anyone else is interested I'll post up pics of the Sears Roebuck box for the timing gun. Its all so very cool. I want to put it in glass display cases and put it on the wall! Thank you Gary, you've gained a friend for life sir!

Ill send it via PM sir, thank you again my friend.

I am truly blessed to have good Pontiac friends here! If there is any way I can return the favor for you or any of you guys on the site please don't hesitate to ask.

LAST INDIAN !!! It doesn't get any better than a Craftsman tool for me! Perfect. You are a true gentleman and the ultimate indian warrior! Thank you again my friend!

Now I took the GTO to work this morning and wouldn't you know? I forgot to adjust the mixture screws so at every stoplight I would get a stumble and a stall. I also had a hard time keeping it running and getting it out of the garage even after the engine came up to full temp. So I got her home, adjusted the screws and it ran like crap. So then I got out MY timing light that has no inductor clip but an alligator clip so I have to stick a paper clip up in spark plug wire #1 and keep moving it into a position that doesn't short out on the block. The timing light I borrowed yesterday had a bad connection at the base of the gun and was intermittent. So I ended up adding back +4 degrees of initial timing and got rid of the idle and stumbling issue at operating temperature. So I guess I will see how it is to start and warm up on my next trip out. It's been years since I have had to "tune" a car so this stuff and the tricks of tuning are coming back to me slowly. I guess it helps to do this on a consistent basis to remember all that's needed to perform a complete tune .

Dude you are my hero, After having 2 that had issues, I would love to have one where everything is working. Let me at least pay for shipping? Thank you so much!

So this month makes it 2 years of ownership of the 70 GTO. After that amount of time, you feel like you should pretty much know you car inside and out. Well thanks to hurricane Irma, I think I got sold a tank of regular gas as premium (no big surprise) as I hammered the car, I got some detonation, ping, knock, whatever you know it as. I didn't at first think of the gas but I also know I hadn't heard the car detonate since I've owned her so now its time to check timing on the car. (something I should have done right after I took delivery) So of course a timing light is something few people outside of our circles owns, but those in our circle can and will loan them out. I was the loaner of a timing light and the loanee moved before I could get it back so now I was the loanee and today I put the gun to the car and was surprised to learn the car was running just under 14+ degrees of initial timing.....wow! No wonder! So now its back down to 4+ degrees and man talk about a boost in off the line torque! Of course the idle took a nose dive and after about a half a dozen adjustments I can really get a nice rumpety cam sound I knew this car should have had all along. Still drives smooth, stills idles with a nice side to side motion of the chassis at a stop light and a lot more push back in the seat on the butt dyno. I went ahead and tightened down on the screechy alternator belt while I was under the hood losing 1 pound a minute of sweat in this blistering Florida and engine heat. It might not be a bad idea to check the little things here and there, you might be surprised of what you will find.

Did you try calling him? I'll check on him as well. he might be ready to move back after this experience,HA!

Yeah very little damage, I have a couple of fence sections to replace from wind and fallen trees, a couple of pool patio screens blown out, lost my ice cream collection but all in all a very light hit. I'll be hard pressed to face another storm like i did when I lived down south with Hurricane Andrew. I agree with everyone when you say we were blessed and lucky.

Backyard before Hurricane Irma... and after....

Finally back online. Just restored power, my phone service is sucking for internet access still but I have power that is our lights and water. Good to be back, safe and sound. No one hurt, no major damage. I'm waiting on pics from my phone to be sent to my email so I can photobucket them here. Be patient.