Timing light for Magnetic Module Ignition, settings for stock with a Holley 4BBL.

[Righty]

Hi All, 1969 Barracuda, stock 318 previous owner added 4bbl Holley and Street Dominator Intake, Chrysler 5 pin Magnetic Module and an Accel coil.
I have been setting the carb up very basically using the idle screw and mixture screws, at the moment it's probably a tad lean so I'll carry on tweaking that but I want to check the timing before I carry on.

This will be my first time setting timing so i need to buy a timing light, I am tempted to buy a dial back or even a digital light with a tacho, as obviously they look to be so simple to use, but I have read a few posts about a lack of accuracy and would there maybe be issues with the magnetic ignition module? Alternatively I could buy a no frills light and timing tape for a 7.25" damper and rig up a tacho from the coil. What do you all use?

The engine is a stock 318, a bit long in the tooth so I'm not expecting to set it up for performance, in fact the opposite, I have no idea of the condition of the pistons, rings etc so I want the timing to be pretty conservative to avoid the risk of detonation. Will the Holley and the magnetic module make much difference to timings, or can I stick pretty close to the FSM settings as my baseline?

Thanks all.

 

[halifaxhops]

Do not but a dial back type they are usually off digital or a no frills will work fine with a chrysler ECU.

 

[Righty]

Do not but a dial back type they are usually off digital or a no frills will work fine with a chrysler ECU.

Just a further question - the car doesnt have a tachometer, sorry I know I'm being dumb but what options do I have for a unit that I can use while checking the timing?

 

[halifaxhops]

No problem how we learn. A tach dwell meter will probably work the best. I like analogue because you can see the needle deflect a digital will keep searching. I have all this calibrated if needed and you cannot find it there. If you need one also look for one that also has volts. That will cover 99% of what you will need.

 

[RedFish]

The FSM for 69 model might show 10 BTDC. That won't play well with low octane fuel. We have to hunt what timing is best or hunt real gas, or both. Good luck.

 

[Righty]

No problem how we learn. A tach dwell meter will probably work the best. I like analogue because you can see the needle deflect a digital will keep searching. I have all this calibrated if needed and you cannot find it there. If you need one also look for one that also has volts. That will cover 99% of what you will need.

View attachment 1716444231

Thank you, unfortunately, having had a brief look, the only new tach dwell meters i can find are all pretty cheap multimeter type set ups, any decent old ones on the various markeets are sold as untested. I'll have to keep searching.

 

[halifaxhops]

I have them all different prices problem is the shipping to the UK. Keep looking in say marketplace?

 

[Righty]

The FSM for 69 model might show 10 BTDC. That won't play well with low octane fuel. We have to hunt what timing is best or hunt real gas, or both. Good luck.

I havent looked yet, but that's probably true, the highest octane gas we have in the UK is about 99RON, I'd be interested to know what sort of starting point for idle timing people are using with modern fuels.

 

[Righty]

I have them all different prices problem is the shipping to the UK. Keep looking in say marketplace?

Yep I'll just keep searching. The alternative is I have a Autometer Monster tacho sat on the shelf I suppose I could jerry rig that off the battery positive and ground it to the block, problem is it's not that accurate compared to a dedicated meter.