Silly Question

[spdracr39]

My coffee hasn't settled in this morning. Which way do you turn the distributor to retard the timing on a chevy v8. I think its counter clockwise but the thinker is not so confident anymore. When restarting the engine kicks back a little when its warm but otherwise runs great so i'm gonna bump it back a little.

 

[Green Boater]

Re: Silly Question

I "think" if you turn the distributor counter-clock wise, it retards the timing. The best way to tell is to mark the timing marks with white-out and use a timing light.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Silly Question

Well that would be too easy and I know what yall are gonna say but I have never owned a timing light Thanks I just needed a refresher.

 

[Don S]

Re: Silly Question

I know what yall are gonna say but I have never owned a timing light

You better get one if you don't want to be pulling the engine to replace burned pistons and valves.

 

[Gettinther]

Re: Silly Question

My coffee hasn't settled in this morning. Which way do you turn the distributor to retard the timing on a chevy v8. I think its counter clockwise but the thinker is not so confident anymore. When restarting the engine kicks back a little when its warm but otherwise runs great so i'm gonna bump it back a little.

I don't know about yours but on mine lookin down from the top - retard timing is clockwise -

unless its a reverse rotation engine

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Silly Question

Retard is clockwise.

And a SBC will tolerate about 28 degrees before knocking so a timing light is a cheap investment. They're free to borrow at a lot of the corporate part stores!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Silly Question

To retard you turn the distributor in the direction the rotor turns. A timing would be really useful for uh.... timing the engine

 

[Gettinther]

Re: Silly Question

To retard you turn the distributor in the direction the rotor turns. A timing would be really useful for uh.... timing the engine

like this- clockwise

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Silly Question

Thanks !!