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Timing retard in high gear

5K views 17 replies 5 participants last post by  LivermoreDave 
#1 ·
Anyone running a timing retard for high gear. I hooked up my timing computer (MSD 8980?) and I'm curious as to what it's going to pick up if any. My timing is at 36 total right now but it seems like it's laying down in high gear. Thanks in advance!!!
 
#4 ·
Actually - "timing retard in high gear" is kind of a missnomer.
It's really a way to INCREASE ignition timing in the lower gears for better acceleration.
Your numbers may be different but here is the explanation of how it works. If your engine likes 36° of total timing, you set the timing at 39° and use the "high gear timing retard" to pull the timing back 1° from optimum to 35° in high gear when loading is the greatest and acceleration is at its slowest rate...
 
#5 ·
Timing retard

rmcomprandy said:
Actually - "timing retard in high gear" is kind of a missnomer.
It's really a way to INCREASE ignition timing in the lower gears for better acceleration.
Your numbers may be different but here is the explanation of how it works. If your engine likes 36° of total timing, you set the timing at 39° and use the "high gear timing retard" to pull the timing back 1° from optimum to 35° in high gear when loading is the greatest and acceleration is at its slowest rate...
I was guessing it was something along those lines. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works. Thanks for the help!!!
 
#6 ·
Timing retard

Got the timing retard installed today. It pulls like an animal in 1 & 2 gear now and doesn't lay down in third like it used to. I have the timing at 39 degrees total and I'm pulling out 4 degrees in high gear. The weather was pretty hot and humid today but the engine didn't detonate as far as I could tell. The plugs look good. I'll keep you guys posted on the track results. Thanks again for the help!!!
 
#7 ·
Re: Timing retard

jims91notch said:
Got the timing retard installed today. It pulls like an animal in 1 & 2 gear now and doesn't lay down in third like it used to. I have the timing at 39 degrees total and I'm pulling out 4 degrees in high gear. The weather was pretty hot and humid today but the engine didn't detonate as far as I could tell. The plugs look good. I'll keep you guys posted on the track results. Thanks again for the help!!!
make sure you post 1/8 mile difference as well as quarter. Im interested to see what happens.
 
#8 ·
Re: Timing retard

feetfirst said:
jims91notch said:
Got the timing retard installed today. It pulls like an animal in 1 & 2 gear now and doesn't lay down in third like it used to. I have the timing at 39 degrees total and I'm pulling out 4 degrees in high gear. The weather was pretty hot and humid today but the engine didn't detonate as far as I could tell. The plugs look good. I'll keep you guys posted on the track results. Thanks again for the help!!!
make sure you post 1/8 mile difference as well as quarter. Im interested to see what happens.
Will do. Hoping to have some numbers by this Tuesday. Unfortunately they will be 1/8 mile only. I'll be sure to make a few passes before I plug in my timing retard and note the differences. I'll keep ya posted. Thanks.
 
#9 ·
Timing retard results

Took the car to the 1/8 mile last night. I've listed the weather/track conditions below. I was to hot/lazy to do any back to back comparisons so I just left the timing retard hooked up (never put it back to original timing). The car appears to be making a bunch more power now, as the tire spin is back. With the weather being as bad as it was I figure it gave me a solid tenth or so. Most of the guys I race with were off as much as 2-3 tenths! I was off my best (at this track) by .05. I ran a 7.06 with roughly 1000' (DA) better air and slightly cooler. I don't know what the correction factor is but I'm guessing it would be good for atleast a tenth or two. I'll try do my back to back testing when it cools down a little.
Thanks.

Track elevation: 600'
Density Alt: 2600' !!!!!!
Temp. 87F (80% Hum.)
Best et 7.11
MPH 95.98
Best 60' 1.55
 
#11 ·
dfree383 said:
Jim,

What parts did you use?
Dave,

For the timing retard, I used the MSD 8980 box with a 4 degree chip. I ran the purple/green (I think) wires that come off the box inside the car and hooked it to a nitrous switch. I bolted an NOS mounting bracket to the back of the shifter so when I shift into high gear it activates the switch. If you run this type of setup you have to run a switch that has the normally open and normally closed tabs on it. Got one from Jegs for $8.00. One wire from the box needs to be hooked to the normally closed tab so when the switch is activated it will interupt the ground path and activate the retard. I'll try and get a picture of the switch mounted to the shifter. I hope this wasn't too confusing. Let me know if you have any questions. Later....
 
#13 ·
timing retard

Exactly. The shifter handle contacts the switch in Third gear only. I was able to take my timing from 36 to 39 degrees (in first & second) and then kick it back to 35 total in third. Like I said before the difference in power is very noticeable. The plugs have not shown any sign of detonation and it pulls much quicker to the shift light. Next time I get it to the 1/4, I plan on doing my back to back testing to see exactly what the gain/loss will be. If you have any suggestions let me know. Thanks!!!
 
#14 ·
I did this same thing years back on the 306 car, we pulled it back like 2* on every gearchnge, 2 total.

Made a small diff on et, but the box went wacky and was retarding when it was not supposed to, so we scrapped the idea.

I just used two switches mounted on a plate and the shifter would trip them with each shift.
 
#16 ·
yes, a nos controller will work. Im putting in my buddys 7al3, which has 4 steps of retard.
My buddy went to a digital series, where you just program the laptop in every gear for retard, or on a timer type program.
This is an expensive alternative, but very adjustable.
 
#17 ·
timing retard update

Took the car back to the 1/4 mile the other night. I had a chance to play with the timing a little. My first pass was with the initial timing at 39 degrees for 1st & 2nd gear and I was pulling 4 degrees out in 3rd. The car was spinning the tires somewhat in this configuration. I then disconnected the timing retard and set the initial timing back to 36 degrees total and made another pass. The car immediately lost 1 mph and a little more than 1/2 a tenth (.07 to be exact). I then hooked the retard back up and again the car picked up (with slightly worse track conditions no less). I think there's a little left if I play with it some more but in general the car feels much stronger with the increased initial timing. Thanks for all the advice and feel free to ask questions!!!!
 
#18 ·
*

There is no set amount of retard for timing on any given engine. Work with the timing at the track to understand what your engine likes! One thing for sure, the engine will spin a bit easier when the timing is retarded. Notice any increase in MPH ?

Dave.
 
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