88olds350

I have a 350 small build 350 in my 88 cutlass. When I put 20 degrees of timing in it it cranks very slow and sounds like it will barley start, I can hear the starter crying while cranking. when I kick the timing back to 10 degrees it starts with no prop but my problem with 10 degrees is it has no nuts. Any cheap solutions?

MDchanic

Get a distributor recurve kit from Crane or Moroso and increase the range of the mechanical advance - that way it can start around 10° where your engine likes to start, and go up to where it needs to go for good performance.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Your starter or battery maybe weak, Poor connections at battery or starter, poor ground, etc.

88olds350

Never even thought about that, thanks so much.

88olds350

Next newbie thought, most recurve kits I've seen only say about how fast each set of springs advances, is there a way to tell how it will top out?

MDchanic

If I am not mistaken, some of the HEI kits (I'm ASSuming you have HEI, based on your problem), the ones that come with new weights and a new centerpiece, increase the advance range, plus, you can usually do a little grinding and increase it a bit more, if necessary.

- Eric

Fun71

On the HEI it is the contact part of the center plate and weights that dictates the amount of advance, not the springs. The springs control only how fast the weights fly out; it is the contour of the mating surfaces of the weights and center plate that dictate the amount of advance.

The Moroso HEI kit that I bought years ago gives 24º mechanical advance, which matches what my engine originally had in the points distributor, so I was able to set the initial to the factory 10º setting for easy cranking.

You can install a toggle switch in the 12 Volt feed to the distributor (the terminal marked BAT). Turn the switch OFF and start cranking the engine, once it's spinning, turn the switch to ON and the engine will fire up. If you hide the switch it can double as an anti-theft ignition kill switch.

88olds350

Thanks so much. Ill defiantly look into it

MDchanic

Yes, but once you've altered the range, in all likelihood, you'll need to modify the rate as well.

Thanks for clarifying the details - I've installed one of those once (Hint: There are tiny E-clips holding that center plate on, prying won't help), but did not recall how wide the range was.

- Eric