Timing question-

tom

Hey Buick people!
I have not set the timing for an engine in over 15 years and I want to make sure that I do it correctly.
Could someone give me a detailed (but simplified) way of doing it?  PLEASE!??!
I know to have a timing light hooked up, loosen the distributer, find the mark on the flywheel, and turn the distributer until the marks line up.  
But what about plugging the vacuum lines?  Where do I find the marks on a 455?  Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Thanks!  I just want this beast to ROAR!
BTW-  I have searched and read the other posts for timing, but I think the "power" timing might be too much for right now.  My car runs great now, and I would hate to mess things up!!!

Best, easiest, fastest way.....get a vac gage and set your timing use the vac port on the rear of the intake that goes to the trans vac gov.

Loosen dist and rotate the dist until you read max vac draw....17-19"
Tighten dist, go for a test run, get to operating temp.

Shut car off and let it sit for 4-5 mins.

Try to restart car......if you encounter slow, "hard starting" reduce initial timing to 15-17"

Repeat process until you have no 'hard starting" problems.

Why a vac gage....because factory timing marks are off and outer balancer ring may not be lined direct in-line with inner hub so key way lines up with the mark/slot on balancer.


Originally Posted by GreenDemonHey Buick people!
I have not set the timing for an engine in over 15 years and I want to make sure that I do it correctly.
Could someone give me a detailed (but simplified) way of doing it?  PLEASE!??!
I know to have a timing light hooked up, loosen the distributer, find the mark on the flywheel, and turn the distributer until the marks line up.  
But what about plugging the vacuum lines?  Where do I find the marks on a 455?  Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Thanks!  I just want this beast to ROAR!
BTW-  I have searched and read the other posts for timing, but I think the "power" timing might be too much for right now.  My car runs great now, and I would hate to mess things up!!!

It runs great, I'd leave it alone if I was you.  It's OK to check to see where it is though so at least you have a base line to know where it is running great.

Hook up the timing light to the #1 plug wire (drivers side, front plug)  Unhook the vacuum line from the vacuum advance and plug it with a pencil or golf tee.  Start the engine and let it idle.  The idle should be 1000 RPM or lower so you want the engine up to operating temperature before you check the timing.

The mark on the balancer should be fairly obvious to you.  You may need to get under the car, or you could bump trhe starter a few times to bring it around.  You can mark it with white paint to make it more visible.  I like to use some paint on a toothpick because the toothpick will fit into the mark and not get paint on the rest of the balancer.

With the engine at idle, point the timing light at the timing tab.  The timing tab is right over the edge of the balancer on the drivers side.  It has numbers, 0, 4, 8, 12.  It may be full of grease and hard to see.  You may want to clean it before by wiping it with a rag.

When you point the timing light at the timing tab, you should see the balancer mark opposite one of the numbers.  That will be your initial timing.  Compare it to the specifications for your year engine.  If you have an advance timing light (dial back), you can turn the dial until the balancer mark lines up with the 0 on the timing tab, then read your timing off the dial.  Hope that helps.