Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Will upping timing increase combustion noise?

[Fordiesel69]

I have always liked that distinct rattle. But too much rattle gets annoying. My 12v is spec'd for 12. 5 degrees and I would like it to be at least 13. 5 to cure the cold stumble and smoke. What is the max timing I should go and will it get too loud.



I can only tell with my Ford 6. 9L that with the cold advance kicked in, the knocking it far to loud for constant driving. When it warms up and shuts off the knock sounds great. What I don;t want is to pay money and have it advanced too far and be too loud that I have to pay a second time.

 

[Gene Arnold]

I suspect it will be noisier. I played around with the timing on my old Chevy 6. 2 and it got significantly louder.



Gene

 

[LanceD]

when I bumped mine to 16. 5, the clacking got a little louder, but not much.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

When I changed my timing from 12. 5* to 15. 75 the change in rattle was insignificant. I would say by the time you get to 17 degrees it does become noticeable, 20 degrees it's pretty sharp.

FordDiesel69 if you're going to bother adjusting your timing shoot for 15. 5 degrees. . . you'll definitely benefit from this change and be able to do it without the drawbacks of aggressive timing can bring (hard starting, more rattle, more off-boost smoke). It also keeps you in the safe zone as far as your head gasket is concerned. When I changed my timing it definitely gave it more spunk, helped highway MPG, and increased passing power.

 

[Fordiesel69]

When I changed my timing from 12. 5* to 15. 75 the change in rattle was insignificant. I would say by the time you get to 17 degrees it does become noticeable, 20 degrees it's pretty sharp.



FordDiesel69 if you're going to bother adjusting your timing shoot for 15. 5 degrees. . . you'll definitely benefit from this change and be able to do it without the drawbacks of aggressive timing can bring (hard starting, more rattle, more off-boost smoke). It also keeps you in the safe zone as far as your head gasket is concerned. When I changed my timing it definitely gave it more spunk, helped highway MPG, and increased passing power.

How does yours start and run cold with 15. 5?

 

[GAmes]

How does yours start and run cold with 15. 5?

I don't know about his, but I have no trouble with mine. I've even started it a 10 degrees with inop grid heaters (wire came loose on one relay and the other had failed). It did shake and cough like a dog ejecting peach seeds. No noticeable change in engine sound under normal circumstances.

 

[NCovey]

I have mine at 20*, and there isn't really that much difference in noise.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

How does yours start and run cold with 15. 5?

Starts great, didn't have a noticeable affect on starting ability. I think starting difficulty starts when you go past 17-18*, but a lot of guys running that much timing have thicker head gaskets, which also contributes to hard starting.

 

[bmoeller]

I'm at 16. 25*. A tad noisier, but not much. Sounds more like a tractor now. Startablility is pretty much the same as stock timing.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

bmoeller, just notice the quote in your sig, gotta say Amen to that