How do I advance the timing on my Chevy scottsdale 350.?

Question

I have a new 350 in my 1972 Scottsdale that blows black smoke when first starting.It will also choke out and shut down after surging and sputtering and acting like it,s not getting enough fuel.Thanks

Answer 1

Loosen the distributor bolt and turn the assembly clockwise just a little not to much you will hear the idle change to a higher rate. To lean out your carb turn the mixture screws counterclockwise try only half turns make sure you turn both screws the same amount.

Answer 2

Timing (may) have an affect but I feel that your problem lies in the carburetor. Black smoke usually indicates a rich fuel mixture. Depending on the age of the carburetor, (I am assumung that it has never been serviced or replaced) I will speculate that the float is saturated, meaning that it is retaining gas. If it is then the float level will be lower, thus the fuel level will be higher. I suggest having the carburetor rebuilt before doing any timing changes.

Did you install a new carburetor as well? I would check the float level on this.

Depending on your region and the emissions package, your initial timing should be set somewheres between 0 degrees TDC (top dead center) and 5 degrees BTDC (before top dead center). In high altituded regions, some of us will recommend setting your timing 1 degree BTDC for every 1500 feet of elevation above sea level. Due to the atmospheric changes associated with altitude, you may want to compensate for the leaner oxygen content.

Good luck.

Answer 3

On a 1972 truck, you adjust the timing by turning the distributor. There is a bolt at the base of the distributor that you loosen and you turn the distributor while using a timing light to set the timing to where you want!!!

Answer 4

HEY, DONT KNOW BOUT YOUR PROBLEM, BUT ITS A CHEVY SO IT WONT BE DOWN FOR LONG