My car has the mods listed in the signature below, (stock KM, headers are not yet installed.) I had the scanner on my car, and I had never paid attention to the timing retard. It's 9 degrees at idle, if you blip the throttle it will go as high as 18 near WOT, and I've seen higher #'s I believe, but most often it was about 10 degrees. Once you get it over 4k rpm, it retards 4-5 degrees. I know I have the stock KM but aren't these numbers insane?

 

From what I have heard from so people, those numbers might not be that insane. Especially if you have the stock KM. Someone will probably be able to give you better info though. Maybe try getting the LT4 KM if you have the cash available and try that.

 

OK, I just took the car down the road with the scanner going... If I stick it in third gear and pin it at 70mph I get 10 degrees retard. and If I lug it in 6th gear up a hill at around 60 I get about 4 degrees retard. Also, I monitored it again with the car sitting still, this time not blipping the trottle but holding it steady, above 4k rpm I get about 3 degrees, then once around 5500, it goes from 1-6 degress back and fourth... My valves click a little.. (out of adjustment) and that migh explain some of it.. Aren't I loosing gobs of power?

 

You must be knocking pretty good....

 

I would be willing to bet that it's your lack of exhaust. That thing HAS to rumble. I know when I have my cutout open, I pull timing like that also. Someone told me that it only happens with a cutout cause it's so close to the engine, but if you have tailpipes it should be fine. I didn't believe them, and it sounds like they were wrong anyway. Try an LT4 KM. It's less sensitive. I think they're only like $40 or so from Jegs.

 

I have my muffler out too, but I also have stock manifolds, and my cat still in there. I bet your exhaust is too loud for its own good, but not for your good. Just get that LT4 KM and go terrorize the neighborhood.

 

The exhuast exits the rear.. I have a dummy muffler.. I have a pipe straight through the muffler from the inlet and dumped out the other side.. Can't see the engine hearing much of that... I have an extra stock muffler though.. so I might give that a try.

 

Yeah, give that a try. I'm interested in knowing if the exhaust is actually the cause. Let us know!

 

I'm going to adjust the valves first and see if that helps

 

Could have an exhaust leak, I know that Edelbrock headers, no cat and no muffler equal lots of knock.

Your engine wouldn't hear exhaust anyways, the knock sensor just picks up vibrations and yes w/ your current exhaust setup I'm sure that there is more then enough vibrations in your whole car to make that knock sensor go crazy.