Hey all! I'm doing my timing tomorrow for the first time and just wondering if y'all had any suggestions. Should i set it a little high?

I have an '87 22r pickup. 5 speed.

 

Did a search through the forums and I'm seeing everything from 5 degrees before TDC to 20.

i just bought my truck and it is currently running pretty strong, i've done alot of work on it, just fixed the vacuum hoses and spark plugs.

reference: 22r boggin' out

the only thing i haven't done yet is the timing and next week i'm going to check out the carburetor.

what's the diff for the timing. how will setting it higher or lower affect it? i need a better idea to see what will work for my pickup.

Thanks

 

You're setting when the spark fires in relation to the top of the stroke.
20 BTDC means you're firing the spark 20 degrees before the piston is at the top of the stroke.

Typically, more timing means more power. Too much timing and you'll detonate, which is not good for your motor and will reduce your power.
You can run more timing with higher octane gas. Fuels like propane, which are much less volitile than gas can run even more timing.

20 degrees of timing is way too much.


Too little timing means that you're firing too late in the engine cycle. This means that the fuel can still be burning when the exhaust valve open. This can "burn" your valves and lead to high EGTs.