Timing for electronic ignition upgrade

Cudamike56 said
I had read somewhere when converting from the old dual point dist. to electronic, the initial timing setting needed to be advanced from the factory 5' BTDC, which is where it is now. Has anyone else heard of this idea?

Its false. There area least a couple of dozen different advance curves that came from the factory on LA engines with ECUs. Aftermarket is adds an additional variable.

Cudamike56 said
If so, does anyone know what the timing should now be set at?

Not really. 5*BTDC at 650 rpm for the automatics was to reduce HC emmissions while idling. To use the factory inition, the engine must have the matching distributor. The factory distributor advanced quickly from idle rpm, so by 950 rpm it had the same timing as it would have if there was no concern about emmissions.

Cudamike56 said
I'll try advancing the initial timing until it starts to detonate, then back off a degree or two, and see if it makes a difference.

Right is better. Maximum it will tolerate for starting does not identify maximum power. Your engine was not spec'd at 5*BTDC for improved starting, but for emissions. Factory non-smogged high performance LA engines will provide the strongest (and most fuel efficient) idle between 10 and 14* BTDC. With your automagic you can test this by placing the selector into D and noting the drop in rpm. The strongest idle at a given rpm, will be the adjustments (timing, fuel mix) that can tun the transmission converter and pump with the least drop of rpm.

Cudamike56 said
If it doesn't, I'll have a local speed shop check out the distributor on their machine. Thanks again.

Getting the distrributor advance information will be immensly helpful. You can do it on the car, but its easier to do it on the machine.