I have a 454, with a 286H magnum comp cam, rect. port heads, 850dp, 9-1 compression, headers... what should i set my intial timing at and total timing, i have heard 12before for initial, but someone else told me 18 initial, i know you need to set it to where it runs the best, but i am just putting the engine in, and would like to know the best timing for this engine, total, and initial, any ideas?

i have always started out with about 10 initial until the engine is broken in, then i start playing with it. this will usually end up with a conservative timing curve that won't rattle the thing to death, but isn't retarded enough to make it overheat.
after break in, just start playing with it. i really don't know what bigblocks like for total timing, so i can't help with that.

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1971 Nova(looks like 69 camaro from underneath!)
355sb, vortec heads, HOT cam,T-10 tranny, 3.70 gears 16X8" IROC wheels
see pics here http://community.webshots.com/user/novaderrik

Well i know 10 is for a smallblock, but i am pretty sure bigblock timing is different. any one else have a bigblock and know what the specific timing is?

Cody: What happened with your stripped head bolt hole on your 454? Did you get it fixed already?

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Bob
Garnet Red 69/SS396/TH400/355 Posi
94 HD Dyna Wideglide

Yeah i got it fixed, i drilled out the hole, then tapped it and then screwed in the helicoil with a little bit of loctite on it.caught all of the metal from drilling and the tang from the helicoil with a magnet that i put in the water jacket underneathe the bolt hole(bolt hole goes all the way to water jacket) Some how, I got the hole perfectly sraight and the bolt when straightt through the head and directly into the threads! I guess beginners luck. i had never helicoiled anything before. I just finished putting the engine together, looks great! I am trying to set the timing right so when i start the engine to break in the timing is dead on. I am going to do that buy finding top dead center, then put the mark on the balancer to whatever the engine should be timed at on the timing pointer and then set the dist. cap on the dist. and put the number one spark plug wire directly on top of where the rotor is pointed, that way when it starts it will already be pretty close to what it should be timed at so when i break in the cam it is timed correctly.

You should be ok at 10 initial for a big block or small block.

[This message has been edited by mohawk (edited 01-24-2002).]

I forgot my cam might be advanced 4 degrees? does that affect the timing?

my high compression solid lift cam bb's
love advance.
12-15 initial,36-40 total.