Question = What is the difference between Total timing and initial timing?

For example, I know you can get a timing light and change the timing by looking at the notches on the crank pulley and turning the distributor, etc etc. Ex. I have it set at 18*. But, I have heard some people telling others to adjust "total timing" as well. What is that, how do you read/adjust it, and is this something that can change the way my car runs a lot? I have heard of it, but never had any experience with it....Thanks for the info in advance.

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1978 Trans Am, Pontiac 400 + .030", milled/decked 9:1 comp., High Energy 268H cam, comp cams rr's, valve job, balanced, edelbrock intake/carb, hooker headers, dual exhaust, flowmaster 40 series 2 chambers, B&M holeshot 2000 TC, B&M ratchet shifter, and march pullies. http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=225185&page=1

As the engine revs, the timing advance increases. Eventually the advance tops off and you hit the total advance. How soon you hit max advance affects how your engine performs. Thats the basic idea, I'm sure someone else can elaborate more http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif

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Andy
aim: Andyman350
1970 Camaro (http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/70camguy) - 355ci, cam, heads, the normal stuff
pics of me and stuff (http://photos.yahoo.com/ayates128)

A distributor has a mechanical and sometimes vacuum advance. There is a set amount of timing advance built into the ditributor (aftermarket dist have adjustable stops to adjust the total in the distributor) You can change weights and springs to adjust the rpm the advance comes in at, but you have to change the stops to change the amount. initial is read on the timing tab, and reflects the location of the distributor. Say you had 24 deg. avail. in the dist., and your tab is set at 10 deg adv., you would have 34 deg total avail., once the springs and weights allow it to come in. You can play with it to help make better power, or increase throttle response. On the typical street/strip car, I like to see around 20 deg in the dist., all in by 3200-3500 rpm, and 16-18 initial, providing it starts ok. This gives you quick throttle response, and a good torque curve.

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Texlurch - 68 Camaro-LT1 w/Hot Cam, TT & TIC coming soon!
" a little spray never hurt anyone, spank you very much!"

http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/texlurch

Cool, thanks for the info!