Timing curves - any ideas?

I've heard that you can get the initial timing by warming the engine up to operating temp, advance the timing a bit, let it idle a few minutes, shut it down, let it heat soak a couple minutes, and try turning it over. Advance the initial timing until you get kickback or it's labored turning over. Once it gets to that point, back off the timing a couple of degrees and that is now your initial timing.

I haven't had any success setting mine this way. It might be the MSDs I've been using, but I've had them up to 45+ degrees initial with no kickback using this method.

Here is a link to a similar question, post 3 from crackedback outlines a method using a vacuum gauge.

crackedback said

340 hit most of the stuff, but, I have a differing opinion on the set it at 34* and call it good.

I'd set your initial with a vacuum gauge. Advance the idle settings keeping the rpm consistent until you reach the highest reading, then back it off 1" and reset idle RPM. As long as it doesn't kick back on the starter, you're good. Mopar distributors generally have a bunch of mechanical advance in them... too much, IMHO.

Then tailor the mechanical advance, welding up or jbweld slots, to reach the desired total advance number that doesn't result in detonation.

Nice write up 340!

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