428 runs tonight, but new dist need some love.

[FloridaMack]

Ok, its finally in the truck and I ran my 30 minutes at 2000 rpm for the break in. 5 minutes in the headers started glowing already. I grabbed the timing light and found I only had about 18 degrees of advance at 2k. Turned the dist to 35/36 degrees and noticed timing varying about 4 degrees. Ebay HEI no name distributor. Already second guessing not reusing my Unilite. No vacumm hooked up. Around 36 degrees the headers seemed to cool some but still dull glow. I moved to 40 degrees at 2k and it seemed happy.  After 30 minutes I brought it down to 800 and checked base timing and found it to be at 30. OK, shut down for the night and change oil in the AM, and maybe see what I get with base timing around 15 and hook up vacumm to recheck 2k? Or play with springs? Off to the shower and get some sleep, either way my Truck is now 428 powered and life is good. Bet I have dirty dreams!

[KMcCullah]

Just a thought here Mack, has your harmonic balancer slipped possibly?

[FloridaMack]

I checked the balancer when I put it together, its good. I hooked up the vacuum today, shows base idle advance at 10, with vacumm at idle I see 35 degrees, and at 2000 Im all in at 52 degrees total. I moved it to 15 base, puts idle @ 40 degrees with vacumm, total @ 57/58 degrees and all in at 2000. It seems strange to get 25 degrees from vacumm to me. Seems like alot of advance but headers are cooler and it runs good on 93 octaine without detonation. Did have a little grunt from the starter hot so will try a midpoint next. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. I'll repost specs on what it is.
Static Compression Ratio 10.2
Intake Duration @ .050": 204
Exhaust Duration @ .050": 214
Advertised Intake Duration (@ .006"): 282
Advertised Exhaust Duration (@ .006"): 292
Intake Valve Lift with OE Rocker Ratio (1.75): .486"
Exhaust Valve Lift OE Rocker Ratio (1.75): .512"
Intake Lobe Lift: .278"
Exhaust Lobe Lift: .293"
Lobe Separation Angle: 112 Degrees
Intake Centerline: 108 Degrees

[shady]

I'd ditch the dizzy. What scares me most about those is that your distributor is running the heart of the whole engine. If something breaks & the engine shut off, no sweat, but if the oil pump shaft rounds out or breaks, could be too late b4 you see that it has no oil pressure. And that is coming from a cheap ass bastard.

[fryedaddy]

i have never heard of 52 total,i thought 40-42 was tops

[jayb]

Not unusual to see over 50 degrees total timing when you add up initial advance, centrifugal advance, and vacuum advance.

[fryedaddy]

ok,i didnt understand adding the vac. adv.