How does everyone set their timing?

[SVOboy]

When I swapped dizzies I left my timing way retarded, and now I'm just going to stick it "in the middle." Do most people just use timing lights or just BS it like I do?

[diamondlarry]

When I last had a car that I could change the timing on(Saturn has no distributor), I would advance it to the point where I heard the idle speed go up and start to get slightly rough. I would then back it off(retard) until the idle smoothed out. Then I would only snug the bolt down and take it out for a drive and see how it ran. I would put it into high gear at about 30-35 and see if/how much it pinged. If it was more than just a few very slight pings I would stop and pop the hood and retard it just a bit more. The car seemed to have about the best power and mileage this way.

[GasSavers_DaX]

If you're OBD-1, jump the diagnostic connector and use a timing light.

[SVOboy]

Will I have the diagnostic connector considering I was originally obd0?

[GasSavers_DaX]

Hmmm, I doubt it. Perhaps someone with an OBD-1 Civic, a meter, and about 30 minutes can help you out?

[SVOboy]

Haha, I've already abused jared's time enough, I figured I'm good enough where it is right now, I was planning on tuning it to the point where it started pinging and then drop a degree off.

[MetroMPG]

i also attended the diamondlarry school of timing adjustment. i figure i'm 3-5 degrees advanced over spec.

i have no idea if it's actually helping though. another scangauge test on the list...

[molecule]

you have to ground your ecu pin d7
thats the service check connector (not the datalink)
i'll go doublecheck that pinout...
just did this for another conversion guy...

A23,A24,A26 & B2 are all the common grounds that meet at your thermo housing ground on the back of your block...
one is also the stock ground for the service check connector
any will work

[SVOboy]

Sweet, I'll keep that in my memory, thanks. I'm so good at depinning ecu plugs now!

[molecule]

also i have a bad habit of editing my posts after making them
so always check back for updates...
if its a bad error on my part...you'll see a new post...
read this post again in a couple minutes after i confirm the pinout...
thanx...

nope...its D4...service check connector
this is also the pin to ground to check your ecu for codes
since you haven't done this since your mpfi swap...
i'm expecting you may find something concering your idle

D7 is the datalink connector...