MSD Digital E Curve Timing Trouble

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Terry8675309

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I have new dizzy and carb as well as 8.5 mm msd wires and blaster 2 coil( OIL FILLED). The installation instructions kinda suck. I set my initial timing at 12 deg BTDC. I can get the engine to idle but it sounded like crap. I pulled all the plugs and they had major signs of preigniting. I am not running any vacuum advance. Do I run more initial timing to solve the preignition problem? I do have new plugs installed and gapped at .036 Also does my gap need to be larger now that i threw out the stock ignition and upgraded to the MSD Digital E Curve?
 
Show us a picture of major signs pre-ignition on plugs. Then check the firing order and rotor phasing.

The selector switches to set the crude timing curves is reminiscent of the 1970's. The unprotected PCB in the distributor is asking for trouble. Leaving a rotor out and cranking could kill that puppy in one shot.
 
Retarding the ignition can help with preignition in some cases, not advancing it.
A lot of it depends on fuel octane, comp ratio, and other internal details as well as timing.

Giving these details would help answer your question.
Fuel you run
Compr ratio
Ignition type
Initial and total timing.
Plug type and numbers

If you don't know these, you really should so you can get the answers you need.
 
Ok, Arte you stating you are getting pre-ignition at idle???? What were the "signs" on the plug that led to this conclusion?

So you initial is 12*, whats your total timing???
 

I have tried so many things over the last three days I cant even remember what I have all done. Now I cant even get the car to fire. I took a chill pill and now I am ready to get back to the basics. I have the motor set at TDC on the compression stroke. The rotor and cap are both pointing toward the #1 piston. I have 12 cranking volts to the coil. The engine will not fire ! Grounds have been checked, and distributor is a simple 3 pin connection to coil wires. Orange to negative on coil Red to positive on coil and the black wire is grounded. The ballast resistor has been bypassed.
 
Have you checked for spark, by placing a grounded plug to the coil secondary cable? Crank it over, there should be 4 sparks per engine revolution. If that works it is a timing or possibly fuel issue.
 
The installation seems odd to me. They have not provided markings on the distributor, or mention them. If they did it would be possible to static time it, with engine off. Then it would be running and easy to check with light and make small adjustment.

The system works by retarding the timing from full advance. So there is a locked timing settings, that retards when starting. It lets to set max advance, however your engine will likely sound ting-ting unless you speed it up. Then you set to the desired the curve you want. The table is a bit hard to follow.

My suggestion would be call MSD, bug the heck out of them, they deserve it.
 
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