5.0 stockers/ distributors

[Tim Ellis]

Any 5.0 stockers ever have problems with a stock distributor changing timing , without the computer telling it to? I checked my timing today, it was waaay off. I reset it, then checked timing at different rpms. Stayed correct until aprox 3000. At 3500 it says 32,then after a few seconds it drops to 16. same thing at 4, 45, 5000 rpm. At 5000 it starts at 32 then drops off to 12. I pulled the distrib and it has a lot of up and down play, prob 3/16". I think it rides up or down the cam gear and retards the timing. I replaced it a year or 2 ago for a similar reason. Are most of you guys running after market, or factory distribs> By the way it's a Holley commander doing the computer controls, and my screen is only showing 30-34 everywhere, and it shows that at the same time as I get the drop, still shows correct timing. I think it doesn't know the timing is retarding. Thanks, Tim

[7423]

Been running the OEM dizzy from the beginning, works just fine. My thoughts are.................pull out the spout and set the timing to your desired total. Do not reinstall the spout. Now your timing is locked out mechanically at your # forever at all RPM'S. I use 32 degress total timing. One less thing your computer has to deal with.

[Tim Ellis]

Yeah, I used to do that too. Problem is, it will still change the timing if it moves up and down the cam gear....at least I THINK that's what's happening. Thanx

[Tom Meyer]

Seen problems with dist shafts gettig magnatized and the timing would go wacky, mostly on high mileage poorly mantaned cars. Tom

[west coast]

I was trying to cure another problem and got rid of my stock worn out ones and went to the MSD dist. Mine would move a couple of degres when you reved it up and down with the spout out.

[Tim Ellis]

I tried the distrib. that was in the car, and today a reman. from Autozone. Same resuts with both distribs and 2 timing lights. The timing is dropping from 30+- at idle to 15+- at 3000 rpm. Funky thing is that one time it even showed 15 at idle too. Holley Commander guy said it could be a bad TFI module. To me it now sounds like the Commander is moving it around but not showing it on the laptop. I'm picking up a new MSD distrib in a couple hours to try. Got a bad feeling, it's gonna just be same problem/ more $. The Holley guy also said it could be worn Timing set, or worn cam gear. Hopefully not, they are a lot tougher to swap out. Thanks for the ideas.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by 7423

Been running the OEM dizzy from the beginning, works just fine. My thoughts are.................pull out the spout and set the timing to your desired total. Do not reinstall the spout. Now your timing is locked out mechanically at your # forever at all RPM'S. I use 32 degress total timing. One less thing your computer has to deal with.

Charlie:
Do you use some form of start retard with the dizzy advanced that far ?

[7423]

Alan
No start retard, fires right up as soon as I look at the key.


Tim
You got me all worried about this issue. Started mine up today and put a light to it. 32 at idle, 2000, 3000, 4000, didn't have the stones to put it at 5000 in park, ( need to show some love to the 135,000 mile long block)

I agree with the TFI comment, my 94-95 does not use TFI.
Or maybe your Holley needs a fresh download of your tune.

[Ed Wright]

A fresh download to the Holley Commander isn't going to fix anything. Listen to the guy from Holley.

[Tim Ellis]

I'm going to call Holley tomorrow. Today I tried Brand new distrib, cap, rotor, ignition module. Same as before. I think it's gotta be the Commander, or timing slop, or cam gear wear. It's very strange though, it idles at 30 +- degrees, then when you bring up the rpm it stays at 30-33, then after a few seconds you hear the load on the motor change as the timing drops to 15 degrees.