Downtime!
Better With A Big Block
Late model 440, older MP .484 cam. New Champion 26" radiator, 185 thermostat and dual 12" fans on a therm switch (on at 195, off at 180, I believe)
Now that's it finally gotten really hot here in Texas (we're in to multiple days over 100, yesterday it was 104), the Scamp is running hot after a drive on the highway. Around town, she'll get up to 195-200 and stay, but on the highway, she'll climb to 210-215 pretty quickly. Decided to check the timing finally, so I got out the old light, and it was dead. Damn, only got 30 years out of that old Craftsman. Couldn't locate a new bulb, so I bought a new light (Actron digital monster with tons of buttons). After finally figuring this thing out, I plug it up, pull the vacuum line off the can, and fire up the car. After pressing the advance button to get the mark back to zero, I look at the number on the screen and to my surprise, it reads 23.2. Assuming the marks on the car are correct, that seems a bit excessive for initial timing. Again, assuming the marks are correct, I adjusted initial back to about 12.5 and the car sounds a whole lot better. Idles better, seems to have a little more pep in her step at lower speeds too. Stayed about the same as far as temp around town, but I didn't get her on the highway yet.
So, does 12-14 sound about right for this combination? If not, where do y'all think she needs to be?
Now that's it finally gotten really hot here in Texas (we're in to multiple days over 100, yesterday it was 104), the Scamp is running hot after a drive on the highway. Around town, she'll get up to 195-200 and stay, but on the highway, she'll climb to 210-215 pretty quickly. Decided to check the timing finally, so I got out the old light, and it was dead. Damn, only got 30 years out of that old Craftsman. Couldn't locate a new bulb, so I bought a new light (Actron digital monster with tons of buttons). After finally figuring this thing out, I plug it up, pull the vacuum line off the can, and fire up the car. After pressing the advance button to get the mark back to zero, I look at the number on the screen and to my surprise, it reads 23.2. Assuming the marks on the car are correct, that seems a bit excessive for initial timing. Again, assuming the marks are correct, I adjusted initial back to about 12.5 and the car sounds a whole lot better. Idles better, seems to have a little more pep in her step at lower speeds too. Stayed about the same as far as temp around town, but I didn't get her on the highway yet.
So, does 12-14 sound about right for this combination? If not, where do y'all think she needs to be?