351 Timing

[deggert]

My buddy and I started his motor for the first time today. It runs, but it's not right. Here are the symptoms:

1. It runs very hot.

2. First I set the timing by ear. When I checked it with the light, it was at about 40 degrees BTC. As I rotate the distributor to retard it, by the time I get it down to about 20 degrees BTC it starts spitting up through the carburator and won't run.

3. Tried moving the distributor over a tooth. We obviously had to rotate the distributor to re-time it (again by ear), when we measure it, it was still back at 40 degress.

Any ideas?

The motor was professionally built. 351 with AFR heads, Edlebrock carb, MSD ignition.

[John / My427SC]

I have a 351 from Ford Racing - they like to "power time" their engines. Run the rpm up until the distrib stop advancing (2500 - 3000 rpm) and then set your total timing, mine is 36 degrees. Don't worry what it is at idle.

Also, make sure you are using the right timing marks - mine had two different sets. Bring the #1 cyclinder up on its compression stroke and double check what is under the timing indicator