Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Where should my timing be set

[Bhale]

I've read hours worth of posts in an effort to understand where to set my timing and why but it seems everyone has a different opinion/experience. I'll be getting 370's in a week or so and i'll add the 16cm housing at the same time. See my sig for more details.



Is there a mathmatical formula or something or is experience the way to go. Most folks seem to run 17-18. I'm worried about popping the head gasket.



Brian

 

[Lightman]

I Ran my 94 at 15. 5-16 it runs just fine my brother drives it now 244000 miles

 

[JGK]

Bhale,



Anything below 17* is OK. I've had mine at about 16. 4 for 2 years and so far, all is OK. Certainly, as timing advances cylinder pressures go up. But there's a lot of "buffer" built into these engines. I am pretty confident that anything between 15. 5 and 16. 5 would be just fine. There is no magic formula that I'm aware of.



-Jay

 

[vssman]

I also agree with JGK - 15. 5 to 16. 5.

 

[Sandifer]

How much should I expect a shop to charge to bump my timing up?

 

[JGK]

It seems to me I've read here around $80 on the low side to $150 or a little more on the high side.



-Jay

 

[vssman]

From memory, I believe "shop manual" calls for around 2 1/2 hours...

 

[DPinkston]

It seems to me I've read here around $80 on the low side to $150 or a little more on the high side.



-Jay

I had a local guy quote me $200. Yeah right, I'll pay that. I bought everything needed (from SPXMiller) to do the job myself for around $150.

Danny

 

[mjoppie]

a $150!!!!!! i paid 10 times that a year ago for my snap-on set :{ i have a little over $1900 into my cummins tools :-{}





back before i had the tools to do my timing i had a local shop do it for me and charged me $80, and checked my fuel pres too. i was happy with the work and he felt he made good money. anything over $100 is to much imo.



matt

 

[DPinkston]

I had a local guy quote me $200. Yeah right, I'll pay that. I bought everything needed (from SPXMiller) to do the job myself for around $150.

Danny

That price did not include the barring tool. I couldn't use one since my Cummins to ZF adapter did not have a place for one. For $150 (plus shipping) I got the dial indicator, indicator tip, indicator holder, and those thrust washer thingy's that I didn't even use. I had already bought a delivery valve socket from them earlier for $45. I have since found that Piers has the sockets a bit cheaper.

Danny

 

[JGK]

Too bad you're not in my neck 'o the woods. My friend and I do it for whatever you wish to contribute. Cold beer on a hot day will suffice! When he first got the Snap-on set, we'd ask for donations just to cover the cost of the tools. Now that they've been covered, we do it just for grins (yours)



-Jay

 

[mjoppie]

darn it! i i knew i have been doing this backwards, for some reason the beer hasnt paid for the tools yet.



i belive that with what you got 16-16. 5 would be great, thats what mine is set at and runs nice and smooth.

 

[Got Smoke?]

It was suggested to me by JR Adkins to run 17* timing (and no more!) with 370 injectors. In my previous truck I ran 16* for about 2 yrs and it ran great, so far my current truck @ 17* runs great too. Just make sure its fully warmed up before you pour the fuel to 'er!

 

[PKemp]

Does anyone know of someone in South Mississippi (Coast) who knows how to do the timing change? I've tried the local dealers and no-one will touch it. I went and bought the tools but am real leary about trying it myself... .

 

[Bhale]

Thanks guys!



I guess I'll start around 15 deg and see how it goes. Of course if i change it more then twice it's worth while to buy the tools to do it myself.



Is the process pretty straight forward? I mean I'm not new to wrenching about and even rebuilt the transmission in my '69 cougar.



How much are the tools and where should i get them? I have a barring tool that came with the Cummins/KD tool set.



Brian



Homer Simpson voice on



Mmmmmm 370's



Homer Simpson voice off

 

[Sandifer]

I would really like to have mine bumped up to about 15. 5 to 16. I am almost at 200k miles and i believe it couldn't hurt. I live less than an hour from Houston. Anybody know anybody in this area who could fix me up?

 

[Got Smoke?]

I would really like to have mine bumped up to about 15. 5 to 16. I am almost at 200k miles and i believe it couldn't hurt. I live less than an hour from Houston. Anybody know anybody in this area who could fix me up?

You definately need to check into it because my previous 97 with 143K on the clock @ the time I had the timing done it had slipped from the factory 13. 5 down to 10-11. Bumping it up to 16 netted 1. 5mpg increase!