Just got the 455 from a toro running in my Cutlass, hei Distrubtor with a Rochester 750 CFM Carb and the stock 455 intake (not the low sitting TORO intake).

My timing right now with the vacumn advance disconnectd is reading just over 18 I believe. ( Its at the top most indicator on the timing tab teeth). What are these supposed to be set at? I have a feeling I am too advanced because when I move the distributor clock wise the motor speeds up ( idling VERY high) and I cant go any further counter clockwise because the distribitor ends up hitting the intake. I feel it is idling way too high right now, I can litterally put it in drive and reach about 15 mph without even touching the gas!
I sat the distributor with #1 TDC and pointer pointing at # 1,

Should I reset the Distributor?

Any help or ideas of what it might be is greatly appreciated. THANKS!

 

when using a timing light disconnect vacuum tube at distributor and plug opening in hose so idle speed will not be effected. timing should be set at 850 rpm on all v-8s and you will want it at 8 to 10 deg BTDC then you can add timing as you and gas and compression see fit. My dad was a big dial it up till it ping then set it back.

 

The timing seems awful high! I would think no more than 12-14*, however that could be attributed to the high idle. First I would make sure the choke is not stuck in hi idle. Then I would set my curb idle back to around 575 rpm in drive or 750 at idle.

The stock timing should be around 10* @ 850 rpm, with the HEI you can probably bump that to around 12-14. With vacuum advance disconnected.

Hope this helps. Good luck

 

Initial on HEI needs to be 16-20 or so. What is really important is TOTAL advance, not initial! Start with a total advance of 30-32 with the vac plugged, and go up to 35 if you have good gas and no detonation. No more than a 10 degree vacuum can. 1 light spring, 1 medium spring, full advance by 2500 rpm. Don't worry what your initial is! Once you have the total dialed in, you can check the initial and use that for future reference.

 

Ive been hearing GOOD GAS.... Should I not use 87 in the big block?

Thanks for the feedback guys, Im gonna get some time this evening to work on it.

 

I assume it is the vacuum advance device on the distributer that is hitting. Yes you need to reposition the distributer so you can back off timing.

 

Well this went bad as I just got the timing close to ten and looked at my temp gauge to see she was way too hot. Like 260 275.... I shut it down right away and did some inspecting to find a crack in the block on the driver side above the starter leading to a freeze plug... I probably should have inspected it better before throwing it in...
I'll send a pic soon but I'm just wondering if this in the end? Also I dropped the oil to find chocolate milk, or anti freeze in the oil. Man I'm starting to miss my 350. Good thing I still have it! Any suggestions?

 

If the oil is like coffee coolant is entering, maybe more than one crack on that block and if so its prob scrap.