TIMING QUESTION
 

HAS ANYONE TAKEN THE SPRINGS OFF THE WEIGHTS IN THE DISTRIBUTOR OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE ON.
WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO SET TIMING IN A SMALL BLOCK CHEVY.RIGHT NOW I HAVE MY SON REV IT UP TO 3000 RPM AND SET IT AT 38 - 40,AM I DOING IT CORRECTLY?
WHY WOULD MY PLUGS BE BLACK AFTER 10-20 PASSES.
406 CID,750 HOLLEY,MSD 6AL 2,SINGLE PLANE HIGH RISE INTAKE,64CC/220 INTAKE PRO LINE HEADS/CAM IS 296 DUR./510 LIFT.JE FLAT TOP PISTONS/4340 CRANK/6"H-BEAM RODS/7 QUART OIL PAN.ALSO WHY IN THE hE11 IS MY BREATHER CAP BLOWING OIL OUT OF IT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION.

If you take the springs and weights out of the distributer then you need to keep it from moving..lock it out, otherwise your timing will be all over the place. If this is a factory HEI then 3000 most likely isn't enough, but if you lock it out you can set it as low as you can read it accuratly. Plugs can be black for various reasons like rich idle mixture, too much jet..
Are your valve covers baffeled?

VALVE COVERS HAVE A RUBBER GROMMET THAT HAS A TYPE OF BAFFLE IN IT.DISTRIBUTOR IS A MSD 85551 PRO BILLET TYPE RIGHT NOW I HAVE THE SMALLEST STOP(BLACK)BUSHING IN IT AND THE WEAKEST SPRING'S.JETS ARE 75 FRONT AND 80 IN BACK.I THINK IM GOING TO GO TO 72 FRONT AND 78 REAR AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

Square them jets and make sure you have some jet extenders

also lock that distributer out you need full advance right then and there on a drag car.

ya got a power valve in that carb?..if so block is off and go up 4 to 6 jet sizes to compensate.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THE, SQUARE THE JETS.
BLOCK THE BACK POWER VALVE ONLY,CORRECT?
AFTER THE DIST.IS LOCKED OUT DO I STILL SET THE TIMING THE SAME WAY AS FORMENTIONED?

Sqauring just means same jets in front and rear...try this before blocking off power valve..if ya still running rich ya may have to look at block off power valve..
when you lock your timing at whatever full advance you desire. it will remain locked at that position, you will not have to bring the rpm's up to get it to advance..

hope this helps.

But you will have a problem starting your car as it is full advanced, you need something to retard the timing for starting of the car....there is start retards that wil retard your timing while you start the car and at 1400 rpm will be totally advanced......sorry for butting in just makes life easier with a start retard box

Starting probably won't be a problem with corrrect timing. I'd bet that a 406 with a cam that small won't want more than 34-36 degrees total. JMO.....
Johnny

I think you should rev it til you stop advancing to actually see where total timings coming in at. I would shoot for total on a drag car to fully advance by 1200 rpm on a dual purpose 2000rpm, should have no trouble starting.Thats giving you 60% more spark advance and the engine will respond. gobble freaking gobble :shock:

MOPAR PLEASE EXPLAIN YOU PROCESS...
THANK YOU.