350 timing question.?

Question

i have a stock 94 gm crate 350 in an 88 s10. when i crank it up and DONT rev it up, it sits at about 6 - 8 degrees. After i rev it up one good time i can check the timing and its at about 20 25 degrees. i can cut the engine off and restart it and the engine is at about 6-8 degrees again why? thanks

Answer 1

you either have the wrong vacuum source on it or the advance unit is sticking in it,those high energy distributors are good ,and cause very little problems,it should read fairly high at idle with the vacuum hooked up to it but it should do this as soon as you start it not go high and stay their,only when the vacuum source is disconnected should it read low,good luck with it.,,PS if yours is still being controlled by the computer this is normal for it to do that ,its the computer that's advancing it.

Answer 2

There's the base timing specification at hot idle with the distributor vacuum line disconnected and plugged with a golf tee. Then in normal operation, there's both vacuum advance and mechanical advance on older distributors. Newer computer controlled distributors control the timing electronically until you get to the distributorless ignition systems of today.

Answer 3

Does it has computer? Did you read the instructions on how to check the timing? What are you looking is the ignition advance done by the computer or the vacuum line at the actuator on your distributor.

If all that checks out, do what the 1st guy told you :-)

Answer 4

Mechanical advance weights in the distributor are sticking.

Remove the distributor cap, and rotor.
Spray some sylicone spray lube around the inside of the distributor.

Answer 5

Sounds like your vacuum advance setting