Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > Vintage RV's
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-18-2009, 10:51 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 248
Timing advice - 1984 454 with QJ

I know there are some experts on the forum with experience of the 454 so I hope someone can guide me.

I am restoring a 1984 Monaco with a low mileage (48k) 454 with standard cast manifolds and CA smog equipment. I'd like to eventually remove the smog kit but for the time being it has to stay.

I've upgraded the cooling system with a 5 row core radiator, 195 degree hi performance thermostat and am replacing the leaking quadrajet with a rebuilt one.

I have just purchased a ProComp HEI distributor and it has variable vacuum advance so I'm looking for the timing procedure and the recommended settings for timing. We have a GCWR of 17,500# and tow a 4400# Jeep so I'd like to err on the side of caution because of mountain climbing and preignition.

What would you suggest as a starting point?

Thanks
steveclv is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-18-2009, 11:40 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 432
Steveclv. I would start with factory specs. Then drive unit fully loaded at wide open throtle (wot) to see if it pings at that timing if not then add some more degrees of advance and retest to see if it now pings repeat untill the unit just starts to ping at this setting you have reache max timing for your rig and the motor will run its best. Just remember many thing effect timing like temp. alt. octane of fuel, gearing etc etc. So it realy is a trial and error job. Also timing must be keep retarded far enough so it does not buck the starter during hot starts. Hope this helds.
__________________
2001 Horizon 2004 jeep GC
autofish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2009, 11:49 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 248
Thanks

If I increase the base timing, do I have to crank back the vacuum advance? Obviously there isn't anything I can do about the mechanical advance at this point.
steveclv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2009, 05:28 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Gary - K7GLD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,696
Rather than re-hash a topic already pretty well beat to death in another thread, check out the thread lower on down I started related to 454 performance and economy - it pretty well covered all your questions, and then some...

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f65/88-wi...sue-56279.html

__________________
John Day....|'88 Winnebago Super Chief 27ft. Class A
Eastern .....|'88 KIT model 240 24 ft. 5er
Oregon ......|'02 Dodge/Cummins 2500 Quad Cab
Gary - K7GLD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2009, 10:21 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 248
Thanks, I wade through the posts to get what I need.

I installed the new distributor today but found that the vacuum advance canister had a ton more advance than the GM original so I swapped back to the GM one and will order an adjustable canister and a new weight/spring set - someone suggested a blue and a silver spring gave the best mechanical advance characteristics.



I timed it at 5.8 BTDC with vacuum disconnected at 700 rpm and will see whether I can advance it a bit at a time when road testing.
steveclv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2009, 10:55 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
LVJ58's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,296
steveclv, regarding the timing, our first coach was an 84 Airstream with the 454. If I recall correctly, the timing was 8 degrees BTDC and set with vacuum line disconnected from the distributor. I plugged the vacuum line while it was disconnected. I would start there then experiment with moving it up to 10 degrees and watch coolant temp and listen for any pre ignition knock.

I would also recommend replacing dist cap, rotor and use high temp plug wires as the 454 liked to cook those plug wires. Would also recommend making sure your fan clutch works properly as that's important when climbing grades.

It should have the turbo 475 tranny and if you hear it whine in low gear that's good as it has the straight cut planetary gears and is fairly bullet proof tranny if properly maintained. We had the 475 in ours and never gave us a bit of trouble.

Best of luck with your project
__________________
Jim & SherrySeward

2000 Residency 3790 v10 w/tags 5 Star tune & Banks system Suzuki XL7 toad
LVJ58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2009, 10:56 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 248
Thanks Jim

Yes I have the 475 tranny and now that I filled it with fluid (it was 4 quarts low) it seems a little happier

I set the timing today but couldn't get it to run at 4 degrees so advanced to 10 ish and it ran better - then when I packed up for the night, I suddenly realized that I never set the idle speed mixture (doh!) so will have to start again in the morning. Live and learn LOL.
steveclv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2009, 02:55 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
LVJ58's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,296
Hey Steve, you're welcome, believe me, I've been there, done that, lots of fun isn't it?--LOL
__________________
Jim & SherrySeward

2000 Residency 3790 v10 w/tags 5 Star tune & Banks system Suzuki XL7 toad
LVJ58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pre-workhorse 454 engine needs help DaveFL Workhorse and Chevrolet Chassis Motorhome Forum 19 01-21-2010 07:48 AM
Need advice looking to purchase my first diesel tazmaniac Class A Motorhome Discussions 11 09-14-2009 03:48 PM
Tuning and timing a 454 Chevy AeroAtom MH-General Discussions & Problems 11 01-07-2008 06:41 PM
Need Advice for Getting Wty Work Completed RickO Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 8 12-01-2007 05:26 PM
1984 P30 Service Manuals? marka Vintage RV's 3 06-29-2007 04:13 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.