Alright, so I just finished turboing my 240 and the only thing I have left to do is to retard my timing. I wasn't really sure how to do it and I didn't know how many deg. I should retard it, like 4-5? I'm going to be running 8psi. Thanks

Just loosen the bolts securing the dizzy and turn it counter clock wise for retard. You can almost run 8 psi with no retard, I'd say just 2 degree's should provide enough margin for safety.

WDRacing wrote:Just loosen the bolts securing the dizzy and turn it counter clock wise for retard. You can almost run 8 psi with no retard, I'd say just 2 degree's should provide enough margin for safety.

Alright, cool. Thanks man One more question, how far counter clockwise do I turn it to retard it 2 deg. sorry for the dumb questions

Well you should really be using a timing light and the crankpulley marks. But you could just turn it like say...3mm. That's a couple degree's atleast.

what if your using an exhuast cam on the intake side, Im going with 15psi

nissan_slider wrote:what if your using an exhuast cam on the intake side, Im going with 15psi

has nothing to do with ignition timing

cam timing and ignition timing are two different things.....

thanks

If you're going to boost 15psi or around there, you'll need to pull much more timing than a few degrees and it will have to be pulled when the boost comes in.

I have a msd 6btm box would this be a good alternative.

hey i found this thread regarding how to retard your ignition, and i must ask the stupidest question, how do you do this? is there a step by step guide i can follow? i am waiting on my manifold to come back from the machine shop so my brake MC isnt violated. This is the only upcoming step that i am unsure, and uncomfortable doing in regards to my knowledge in the subject. do i pull the distrib and turn the gear a little? and when u say counter clockwise is retarding it, which way are you looking at it? and when you say losen it, this means the gear on the dist is still inside the car? i just want to know exactly what i am doing before i screw something up that i cant fix without wasting more $. any links or explanations would be appreciated, thanks!

No removing the distributor at all. If you look at the dizzy, you'll see that it's held in place by two bolts, 10mm iirc. These bolts are loosened a little allowing the dizzy to be turned because the dizzy mounts are slotted.



Before you make any adjustments, make an alignment mark with a scribe or paint pen so you can always return to the previous setting.

Here are the timing marks on the crank pulley. You'll need to use a timing gun when setting your timing. The timing gun gets attached to plug wire #1



To advance the timing turn it clockwise, retard is counter clockwise.

If you have more questions, just ask.

Hey WD, in the S14 pic above, is that dizzy set to factory specs? When i got my 240 SOHC the dizzy was fully advanced, i think (full clockwise), so when i retarded it (counter clockwise) i am back to center position like in the pic above. Still running at 8psi. #dizzynoob

Every car will be a little different and you should always verify the actual timing with a light. In general, when set to stock, the dizzy will be centered like it is in that image. If it's fully one direction or another it's either either severely retahded...lol, or way too advanced.

I haven't invested in a timing gun yet, but when i set the engine at TDC and removed the distributor cap, the rotor was pointing directly at cylinder #1 port while in the fully advanced position. Hmm, i think something smells fishy.

Sounds like it's a tooth off. How does it respond when the dizzy is centered? Get a light...

When the dizzy is centered it back fires more. Also when centered it is semi retarded on ** MY ** SOHC. The way it's set up i cannot advance the timing at all. I jumped a tooth or incorrect installation by previous owner.