Hemi Ignition timing

Just wanted to see if someone could give me some info on Ign. Timing for my Hemi.

Its a 518 with BAE fuel heads, 11.7:1 CR and a littlefield HH 14-71. I am using an MSD 44 and a waterman pump. Right now I'm running 30 degs timing and the motor seems a little sluggish, I was wondering what the max might be. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

I wouldn't be afraid to take those heads up to 38-40°
do it a little at a time thou
probably settle at around 34-36°

 

John is right 38 to 40 that is what I run 40 deg. with the fuel heads...if not the fuel heads look out ...run 20-24deg.max

 

36-38 was kinda what I was thinking, these things have a huge combustion chamber so I thought they might need a little more timing. That would explain why this thing is such a pooch! What should I look for on the plugs ( dont have time to pull the pan every run) to let me know if I have too much timing in it?

 

Mike Canter has a great deal of info on sparkplug reading. Maybe he will see this and post a link to where the info is available online.

Rapid

 

We run our BAE at no more than 28 degrees, usually at 27 and make more hp than needed with a 14-71. We have Brad 5 heads, I dont know if that is the differance or not but anywhere in the 30's for us would mean detonation.

 

The 5's are a lot different than what I have. And yes everyone that I know that uses the fathead stuff uses around 28-32 deg. My heads have a combustion chamber that is at least 70-90 cc's bigger than the fatheads and the intake port is actually smaller. I'm sure these flow less than a fathead and it's been my experience in the past with my N/A motors that the worse the head is the more timing you have to run. IE a 632 with Dart 360's would like 38-40 deg and the same 632 with Big Chiefs would only run 32-35 deg.

 

In my past experience the less timming the longer it will last.I would try to leave it where it is and take a little fuel away and add a little boost before you start jacking the timming way up.Just my 2 cents.Good luck with it.

 

It really depends on combustion chamber size. I run a 173 cc combustion chamber that makes more documented power at 35-37 degrees than any other timing. The small chamber Brad 5s seem to work best under 30 degrees. You would want the motor a little on the rich side as you are working your way up on the timing. More advance makes the motor act leaner. If it was mine I would leave it rich and bump the timing a couple of degrees at a time and once I found a timing setting I was happy with I would start to lean it a little at a time until I had it running about where I wanted it.
Dave Germain

 

i figured that i would add my 2 cents in here. we run a 540" hemi with msd,14-71 HH, 11.9 comp, and the big chamber dart fuel heads. you will get a different answer from everyone you talk to about this, but we run no more than 32 degrees. the motor runs easier there, and it will live longer. higher timing means a bigger parts bill most of the time. if you are looking to get every ounce of power possible, then you might run around 36-38. my question to you is...do you really need it? i say no. the motor will run easier, hurt less parts, and live longer with less timing. i would put 32 in it, and play with the fuel untill you get the motor to full potential like dave said.
most people ran around 40 with the old mallory mags with the big chamber heads a few years back, look how much hotter the msd mags are than the mallorys. i may be wrong but if you look at it that way you should be able to run less timing and burn the same amount of fuel. i am far from an expert, but this does make sense to me.hope this helps.

 

Good call, Not breaking thing is a good idea- one that I forgot. Proof is in my parts bills too.Thanks, I will remember that adage.

 

I appreciate all the info guys! This forum has helped me tremendously with this new combo and it's nice to have a BS free place to get straight answers!

 

Here it is......

http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/reading-alcohol-spark-plugs.html


I keep it bookmarked so I can always go for a refresher course