what should the timing be on a chevy 383 motor?

Question

it has a 570 lift cam and it seems the second cylinder is up so i have know idea what to do.
can anyone help with some info?

i notice this by sticking a flathead screw driver thru the spark plug holes.

Answer 1

I own a shop, and build racing engines. What are you doing? Did you have the distributor out of the engine, and can't get it back in the correct position, or are you just wanting to know what to set the ignition timing to using a timing light? You speak of using a screwdriver, and the #2 piston is up. Why would you worry about the #2 cylinder? You put the distributor in with the #1 piston up in the firing position. I saw this same question you had asked, but was worded differently (I think) a while ago. In order to answer your question correctly, one must know what it is you are doing. Anybody on here that can help you, will. I would be glad to explain it all to you too, but please be more in depth with your question.
Part 2:
If you have taken the distributor out, and have it in the wrong slot; place your thumb over the #1 spark plug hole, while a friend bumps the engine ever so slightly until it blows your thumb/finger off. Turn engine by hand until you align the 0 or TDC up with the pointer on the harmonic balancer. Point the rotor button towards the front of the engine which we will call 6 o:clock. Now turn the rotor button to point to 4 o:clock and drop it into place. If it doen't go all the way down, remove it and use a long screwdriver to turn the oil pumb a little or until it aligns with the distributor shaft, and try again. Be careful to not drop anything down into the engine. When you get it all the way down, install the distributor cap monentairly and take note of which wire the rotor is pointing at. Now, wire your cap up in a clockwise order following the firing order stamped on the intake. Turn your distributor until the rotor is pointing just a few degrees before the #1 on the cap as in the 5:30 position when the cap is on. Install the hold down clamp for the distributor and snug it down, but leaving it loose enough to move the distributor. Start the engine, and set the timing to 8 - 10 degrees before top dead center. Find the degree the engine starts and runs best at, and you have completed the task.
Glad to help you out, Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Fireing order is 1- 8 -4- 3- 6 -5 -7- 2 and the timing should be set at 8 to 10 degrees before top dead center, depending on wear on the timing chain and gear,You may have to time it by moving the distributor one way or the other to maximize the starting and running performance by having a friend hold the brake down hard and put the car in drive then accelerate slowly putting a load on the motor,then while he holds a load on it,you move the distributor back or forth till you hear it clatter,then move it slowly the other way till it no longer clatters,then stop and tighten it down,Then check to see if it starts easy and you got it,good luck, you can do it!

Answer 3

Jonas I have onethat is "stroked" from a 1970 350 The only way to setthe timing is to "power time it" raise the rpms up to about 1200 and hold it steady and turn the distributer till ya hear it go :wabba,wabba and then back it off a hair to get rid of the Wabba(retard it to get out of the wabba) Try starting it and if it cranks hared then back it off a hair more till it cranksat a normal speed. Oh come to think of it,your firing order is #1-#8#4#3 sounds like the distributer has been dropped in 180 deg off

Answer 4

36 -38 degres total timing all in by 2500 rpm. Start with base timing between 8- 12 degrees.

Answer 5

what are you talking cam or dist. timing
cam timing you align the two dots together crank up cam down. and then point the dist to #1 cylinder and fire it up

Answer 6

8-10* before top dead center on cylinder #1