I just put the lt1 intake on my '86 l98. Everything has been re-assempld but I have a question on the timing.

I set the timing by ear at first(before I had a timing light.) When I put the light on what I thought was optimal, it was at 8-10 degrees advanced. The stock setting is 6.

I set the timing to 6 degrees and it just didn't seem to run as well.

If I advance it back to 8 degrees am I going to get burn spots on my pistons or any other ill effects?

2 degrees won't make a difference as far as detonation. Might be due to other factors, such as worn timing chain, etc.

Matthew

I have a stock intake and run 10*. If i set it to 12+*, the
car surges in 1st gear at low speeds (parking lots). Mines a
4+3, an auto may act differently. benny

Going to an LT1 intake will likely require a new tune. I'm guessing more timing at idle and cruise, possibly less at WOT. Just guessing though, you will have to find out what the combo works best with.

Is this an old stock balancer?

Check for slippage. Had a similar problem. I was unkowingly setting my timing to a damper mark that had shifted. Had to set it by ear otherwise the car ran like azz with timing mark set to spec.

When the outer rings slip on these, they walk backwards towards the timing cover and rotate at the same time.

Yes, it is the stock balancer. I think going by earis going to be the best bet for me. Wife will be happier that I don't need to buy MY OWN timing light. win, win.

A timing light is about $20. I bought one and have used it several times more than I ever thought I would. The "setting by ear" method isn't the best way, but you can get it close.

Matthew

Quote:

I paid about $60 for a real nice Craftsman light at Sears.
It doubles as a usefull spark checker on no start conditions.

If your balancer is slipped it's not something you want to put off. It's going to butt up against the timing cover eventually and begin to grind. When it does it's only a matter of time till it eats clean through it, adding metal shavings in the oil, and rewarding you with a big ass oil leak. By this time you probably already circulated some of it through the motor. All for a $50 part. And if you do have to replace it, Autozone rents both the puller and and installer basically for free with a refundable deposit. You get your money back as long as you don't trash their tool after using it.

I have another one to change in a Camaro. Damn thing is already grinding on the timing cover. This one went unheard because the grinding noise was drowned out by the noise of the engine running.

I assume you don't know how to tell.

You should not be able to see any part of the balancer through the the hole in the timing tab. On a good balancer, the tip of the timing tab teeth should be suspended halfway over the balancer ring as in the first pic. You can use these as reference points to tell slippage.

If you crawl under the car and see almost no space between the balancer and the timing cover, it's slipped. You should be able to fit your fingers behind it easily.

Good:
[URL=http://img526.imageshack.us/i/balancer1.jpg/][IMG]http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1728/balancer1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Bad:
This one is already grinding against the timing cover.
[URL=http://img222.imageshack.us/i/balancer3.jpg/][IMG]http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/307/balancer3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Thanks, Pacer. I'll have to check it out.

Good advice by pacer to check the HB. I posted a thread in the beginning of the summer on changing it.

Matthew