Locked timing , yes or no

joespanova · 04-28-2014, 12:26 PM

In a drag race application , big block , automatic ..........any point in a vac advance...............I would prefer it just locked out .

This post is to advise someone else..............I want a concensus so he can decide.

Ed Wright · 04-28-2014, 06:21 PM

Vacuum advance on a race car? Absolutely not.

Chad Rhodes · 04-29-2014, 08:19 AM

The distributor should be completely locked out, and timing adjustment should be done by the ignition box

Jim Kaekel · 05-01-2014, 03:26 PM

Be sure that you have a start retard or you're bound to have serious kick-back issues during starting. Some start retards are built right into the ignition box and it may be just a matter of hooking it up and setting it.

1320racer · 05-01-2014, 06:31 PM

Drag race application...check

Big block...check

automatic...check

and the timing on my 950HP 522 is NOT locked out!

Easier starting, no kickbacks, no chipped flex plates, no busted starter drives.

MSD billet distributor, with largest bushing installed. Full advance is all in at 2200 IIRC.

joespanova · 05-02-2014, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Drag race application...check

Big block...check

automatic...check

and the timing on my 950HP 522 is NOT locked out!

Easier starting, no kickbacks, no chipped flex plates, no busted starter drives.

MSD billet distributor, with largest bushing installed. Full advance is all in at 2200 IIRC.

I can see that........I think he ( the guy this is about ) just needs to spend more time with the distributor.

05-02-2014, 06:21 AM

I had the timing locked in my car, with not so good results. Tore teeth off of the flywheel once. Started when it was cold and cool. south of 130* water temp. As soon as it got warm, the engine would struggle to start. Rewired the car with new battery cables, better batteries, and it didn't get better. Soon as I installed the weight kit in the dist, my problems were solved. It started everywhere anytime.

If you run a 16volt battery, it may not be an issue

Ed Wright · 05-02-2014, 07:39 AM

I have never locked my timing. I don't see the point. Only thing I ever locked was the mag in my sprint car, but that was a push start deal.

Lew Silverman · 05-02-2014, 08:25 AM

The timing of this post (no pun intended!) was perfect. I was just getting ready to lock the distributor on the 'wagon, but I think I'll keep the advance weights in it!

joespanova · 05-02-2014, 08:36 AM

I have it locked in my car.......and it works just fine that way.

04-28-2014, 12:26 PM	#1
joespanova Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ga. Posts: 521 Likes: 7 Liked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Locked timing , yes or no In a drag race application , big block , automatic ..........any point in a vac advance...............I would prefer it just locked out . This post is to advise someone else..............I want a concensus so he can decide. Last edited by joespanova; 04-28-2014 at 03:35 PM.

04-28-2014, 06:21 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no Vacuum advance on a race car? Absolutely not. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

04-29-2014, 08:19 AM	#3
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no The distributor should be completely locked out, and timing adjustment should be done by the ignition box __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA

05-01-2014, 03:26 PM	#4
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,226 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no Be sure that you have a start retard or you're bound to have serious kick-back issues during starting. Some start retards are built right into the ignition box and it may be just a matter of hooking it up and setting it. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

05-01-2014, 06:31 PM	#5
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no Drag race application...check Big block...check automatic...check and the timing on my 950HP 522 is NOT locked out! Easier starting, no kickbacks, no chipped flex plates, no busted starter drives. MSD billet distributor, with largest bushing installed. Full advance is all in at 2200 IIRC.

05-02-2014, 06:21 AM	#7
Todd Hoven Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Locked timing , yes or no I had the timing locked in my car, with not so good results. Tore teeth off of the flywheel once. Started when it was cold and cool. south of 130* water temp. As soon as it got warm, the engine would struggle to start. Rewired the car with new battery cables, better batteries, and it didn't get better. Soon as I installed the weight kit in the dist, my problems were solved. It started everywhere anytime. If you run a 16volt battery, it may not be an issue

05-02-2014, 07:39 AM	#8
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no I have never locked my timing. I don't see the point. Only thing I ever locked was the mag in my sprint car, but that was a push start deal. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

05-02-2014, 08:25 AM	#9
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no The timing of this post (no pun intended!) was perfect. I was just getting ready to lock the distributor on the 'wagon, but I think I'll keep the advance weights in it! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

05-02-2014, 08:36 AM	#10
joespanova Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ga. Posts: 521 Likes: 7 Liked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Locked timing , yes or no I have it locked in my car.......and it works just fine that way.