Put the new chain in tonight!

[JackFish]

Yay, and everything is buttoned up tight and running well. Well a little rough at idle, and didn't have time to check the timing, but the difference is noticable. More tight and responsive.
Set it at 4 degree keyway and will probably back off the dizzy but no pinging on blasts between stoplights.
Going on a 120m. trip tomorrow so we'll see how she does on the highway.

 

[CobraSix]

Good luck!

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight... You installed a new timing chain (time consuming), but you can't find two minutes to set your timing before driving 120 miles the following day? Something about that doesn't sound right. You aren't pinging, but with these 8.7:1 engines the timnig could be too far advanced for max power and not ping. Also, the timing could be too far retarded adn you may have overheating issues. Just doesn't seem very wise to me to skimp on something so critical that takes only a minute or two of your time.

 

[JackFish]

You are absolutely right, however I was doing this with the help of a friend on his time at his place and it was midnight and neither of us had a timing light handy at the time. Had to pack up and go home.

Like I said, I will probably have to back it off. The car has never overheated on me and has a temperature guage. I think the two hour drive to the lake today will be way better than it has ever been with timing slop that existed with the old chain. Musta been 3/4"-1" play and it vibrated like crazy on the highway.

Oh yeah, my buddy works at Piston Ring, so I have him looking into getting me a good light. I hear what you're saying about this detail but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get things done and if compromises have to be made due to circumstances so be it. :|

 

[Anonymous]

I hear ya. I've been in similar situations. It's funny how after staying up in the garage 'till midnight and finally getting the 460 together and firing it up on the garage floor... Well after we heard it run everyone wanted to call it a night and not put it in the car! The night was still young!

 

[JackFish]

Zip, zoom, man if you don't have an FSPP double-roller timing chain it has to be one of the best upgrades you could do to a tired old stock 200. With 4 degrees advance she runs smooth and tight. Probably back off two degrees when I put in the new cam and head, though.
I stopped and tuned the carb and distributor a few times on my trip, which was not inconvenient because the highways are pretty remote here and there are lots of little side roads. Since I had no timing light I found the method that worked best for me was to plug the vac, rev the motor to about 3/4 throttle with my right hand and adjust the distributor with the left, by ear, 'til pinging then backing off. Look for the sweet spot. My heating system is very good, ran about 180 or so.
I'm actually so pleased how well it runs, I'm a little worried about putting in the new cam and head!
I can now see where a recurved dizzy could be quite a nice thing too.
Anyone bought any of those kits?

 

[LameHoof65]

Always nice to hear of it working out --- gives me something to look forward to. I remember one of my problems with the 200 I have was that the thing would overheat in the summer...I bought a 3 core radiator from Dallas Mustangs and it didn't really help much. I think it was that old 65' head was just not good for circulating through the jackets---it needed a good cleanin'..I put at least 3 different thermostats in it and tried a multitude of radiator caps. If I didn't run the ac and didn't have to sit in traffic very long I could get around without it getting hot, but it always ran a little above center on the heat gauge.