Question about timing vs power
#1
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11 Second Hall Moniter
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From: Wyoming
I'm doing a little bench racing here, until I can make it back to the track.
On Saturday, I made a pass at AKRP, went 12.74 at 100 mph. There was no track prep & I spun hard in 4x4 off the line. I just looked at my datalog from that run and I see why. From just after shifting into 2nd gear, I only had 8 degrees of timing for the rest of the run. I already know why this happened, and it will not happen again. Unless I have a brain-fart again....
So my question is, how much power do you guys think I gave up with the low timing? I normally run between 16-18 degrees of timing at the track, mostly depending on the quality of 90 octane I obtained at the pump. How much faster/quicker do you think it would've gone?
I'd like to hear some opinions on this, then I'll put them to the test in one of these upcoming weekends. I'll post up the results.
On Saturday, I made a pass at AKRP, went 12.74 at 100 mph. There was no track prep & I spun hard in 4x4 off the line. I just looked at my datalog from that run and I see why. From just after shifting into 2nd gear, I only had 8 degrees of timing for the rest of the run. I already know why this happened, and it will not happen again. Unless I have a brain-fart again....

So my question is, how much power do you guys think I gave up with the low timing? I normally run between 16-18 degrees of timing at the track, mostly depending on the quality of 90 octane I obtained at the pump. How much faster/quicker do you think it would've gone?
I'd like to hear some opinions on this, then I'll put them to the test in one of these upcoming weekends. I'll post up the results.
#4
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,820
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From: In a van DOWN BY THE RIVER
So you were down, 8 + deg the whole run. I would say you missed out on a a solid 30+ hp.. Maybe i am way off, some setups are more sensitive to timing then others, but being Fi, I think that is a fair statement..
#5
Like John said, some setups are more sensitive than others, and some are a LOT more sensitive than others...
Case in point, my old blown 86 Mustang ran best of 10.24@133 with regular runs in high 10.20's/low 10.30's @ 132 all day long...This was on Torco 118NOS fuel and 28 degrees of total timing.
Just for the heck of it, I ran it exactly as I drove it on the street, which was with 18 degrees total timing and pump 93 octane. Results were damn near exactly 1 second and 10 mph slower...11.25@122 and rather consistent.
This was a 502rwhp/543rwtq (on 118 octane) 3470# car.
10 degrees = 100hp in my car but your results may vary.
Case in point, my old blown 86 Mustang ran best of 10.24@133 with regular runs in high 10.20's/low 10.30's @ 132 all day long...This was on Torco 118NOS fuel and 28 degrees of total timing.
Just for the heck of it, I ran it exactly as I drove it on the street, which was with 18 degrees total timing and pump 93 octane. Results were damn near exactly 1 second and 10 mph slower...11.25@122 and rather consistent.
This was a 502rwhp/543rwtq (on 118 octane) 3470# car.
10 degrees = 100hp in my car but your results may vary.
#6
Just like dropping 100 pounds off your vehicle is not exactly proportional to dropping 0.1 seconds off an ET, timing is not directly related to horsepower. Adding 8-10° is worth at LEAST 30rwhp on your setup.
#7
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11 Second Hall Moniter
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From: Wyoming
I bet it's alot more than 30hp. The truck just layed down when it pulled the 8 degrees. I'll have it on a dyno on June 4th. Maybe I'll dyno it, then pull 8 degrees and dyno it again. That could be interesting, right?
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#8
Definitely interesting lol. Adding 5° on my 5.3 was easily worth 30, it was very noticeable SOTP. You'll likely net a lot more, like you said. What was the DA at the track when you ran the 12.7?
#10
Not that it applies to a modified engine, or is accurate even with a stock engine, but this table shows that 8° retard reduces torque about 2%. That can't be accurate. 2% of 350 is 7.






