Dwell setting

[jeromeb]

Re: Dwell setting

The advance chart listed is for the timing measured at the crankshaft. He wants to be measuring 18? at the crankshaft.

If you have timed your engine assuming this, I suggest you retime your engine.

Any automotive style engine that I've worked with using a mechanical advance distributor will be extremely low on power and have glowing red exhaust using 18 degrees of total timing. The chart reads 12 degrees distributor at full advance. The distributor rpm is half of crankshaft rpm. 12 degrees of distributor advance= 24 crankshaft degrees advance. An initial setting of 6 degrees btdc + 24 degrees of crank shaft = 30 total degrees of timing. Check it out.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Dwell setting

Any automotive style engine that I've worked with using a mechanical advance distributor will be extremely low on power and have glowing red exhaust using 18 degrees of total timing. The chart reads 12 degrees distributor at full advance. The distributor rpm is half of crankshaft rpm. 12 degrees of distributor advance= 24 crankshaft degrees advance. An initial setting of 6 degrees btdc + 24 degrees of crank shaft = 30 total degrees of timing. Check it out.

So by your logic, what would a 5.7L engine have according to the chart? By your logic the 5.7 would have 8 + 42 crank = 50 which is totally wrong.

Bottom line is the 4.3L engine does not have that much total advance.

I see from your profile that you have a 4.3L engine. Take an advance timing light and see how much timing advance you get from base.

For comparison, here is the spec page for a Volvo 4.3L engine using an EST distributor:

 

[jeromeb]

Re: Dwell setting

The advance chart listed is for the timing measured at the crankshaft. He wants to be measuring 18? at the crankshaft.

If you have timed your engine assuming this, I suggest you retime your engine.

Looks like you have all your documentation in order. So I'll own up to my mistake and respectfully concede. It goes to show that you're never too old to learn.