I've noticed alot of these but I can't seem to get the answer I need for it. I have a 69 olds 350 and I have don't know what to set the timing at. I found a website that told me to put it at about 10 I think and it starte knockin really bad. below like 4 or 5 it is really sluggish. So if anyone cane help me out I would appreciate it.

 

Too many variables unless you have done a complete tune-up. 10 degrees of advance isn't going to hurt a car, nor should it make your car knock unless there are other factors; quality of fuel (Old?), condition of ignition parts (old?), vacuum leak someplace affecting idle quality, when does the knock occur?, condition of valves in head (old with carbon deposits) could cause knocking when engine is hot, especially with too much retarded timing.

 

I upgraded the points system to an HEI distributor and I put msd 8mm wires on it and acdelco spark plugs. It's the original motor with around 130,000 miles on it so I'm not completely sure how good of condition the heads are in. It started to knock right before it shifted into second and I don't have a tach so I don't know what RPM it's at. The fuel is probably 1 to 2 weeks old and I only put premium in it.

 

You need to recurve the advance in your HEI to match your motor. Does the pinging happen mainly at wide open throttle (or close to it)? If so, you need to recurve the mechanical advance and possibly limit total advance to 32-34 degrees. You can buy kits with weights, springs, and a bushing to do this.

 

It does happen at almost wide-open. My friend thinks that maybe I threw a main bearing and I'm just not getting any oil to the top of my engine, my oil pressure guage shows about 5 psi at idle and around 25to 30 psi going around town at like 35. Would that be a possibility or are those oil pressures normal?

 

If you threw a main bearing you would know it, I guarantee it.

 

that wouldnt make sense, you recieve more oil to the top end the higher your rpms are. Your advance needs adjusted, i know because im having the same problem with mine. I have the same disty, wires, and plugs, i didnt run into this problem until i swapped the distributor a couple weeks ago.