msd timing curve setup

I have seen dyno'd Clevelands end up with settings anywhere from 32 degrees to 42 degrees total, it depends upon your engine's state of tune, among other things. A safe initial setting will be 36 degrees total, but only a dyno operator can dial it in properly for you.

The ideal static adjustment is easy to find in the driveway. Loosen the distributor a bit, so it can be turned by hand with a little effort, but won't twist on its own when the engine is running. If you're running vacuum advance leave it connected. With the engine running twist the distributor slowly in the advance direction, as you twist the idle speed should increase, keep twisting until the idle speed stops increasing. The setting that "just" achieves maximum idle rpm, before the rpm stopped increasing, is your ideal static setting. Readjust your idle speed. Unplug the vacuum advance & read the timing mark on the balancer with a timing light. subtract whatever the static setting is from 36, that will give you the number of degrees you need for centrifugal advance. The centrifugal advance curve should start a couple of hundred rpm above your idle rpm & should be all in by 3000 rpm. This is a "ball park" setting, a dyno run is needed to dial it in more accurately. And be forwarned, timing that is way off can cause your engine to run hot.

George