Holden 355 - would you lock the timing with this combo?

[COM081]

Alright... recap and update for anyone interested and hopefully some input on ignition timing. Pics below because pics are always good....

For my spin-the-tyres-sink-a-schooey-on-Sunday-spec VC Commodore, the good folks at Camtech came up with this hydraulic roller:
235/242 @50
594/600 lift
108 LSA

355
VN heads, ported to some extent (dunno enough to say)
10.4 comp
3.36 gears, 3250-3500 ish converter (I realise one of these may need remedying down the track, pun not intended)

Will use MSD Ready-to-Run dizzy, no fancy box so min mech advance with supplied bushes is 18 deg.
I assume this thing will want no more than 30 total so that leaves 12 initial, which is probably not enough?

Do I lock it and forget about it?
Do I get a 10 deg bush and work around that?
Do I dick around for ages trying to make 'the perfect bush'?

First option seems the most appealing.

Give it me straight

[GtoGeoff]

Total might be ok, but a-l-o-t more initial.

[COM081]

How do I correct the title? Should say 'lock', not 'like'.

[immortality]

Nice car and nice cam.

[Smitty2]

How do I correct the title? Should say 'lock', not 'like'.

you can't, I will

[HQ 368]

Lock it out at 28 and see how it goes.

I'll put money on it that it'll be ok.

Nascar locked them out for years with no start retard or anything fancy like that.

[COM081]

Thanks Smitty.

Yeah thanks immortality. She's honest, not outstanding. Couple of minor body issues to sort out but all in all a good car. It's just nice to be in really - I reckon those early commo velour interiors are unreal.

12.jpg

[BasicQ]

One way to find out if it likes locked timing-

Lock it out!

[COM081]

More erudite eloquence from BasicQ��

Righto chaps, will suck it and see. Results to follow in a few weeks.

Thanks again.

Oh, anyone know how to switch back to mobile view?

[46Crab]

I don’t mind the cam. You will be surprised how much lift those hydro rollers have under the curve. I’m not sure if the photo of the engine in your car is the 355 or not.

If it’s not, I’d recommend you get you a good valve job and a decent port job to make the most of the cam. If funds allow some 2.02 intake valves would work well. If not and you are going to stick with the 1.94 intakes, a good bowl cleanup and short turns addressed and blended into good valve job will do the trick. Keep us posted.

[COM081]

Hey Crab.

That's the 355 in the car but has since been yanked due to leaking head gaskets. Hence new cam etc.
Heads are with machine shop now to machine and setup spring heights, larger valves etc. No port work this time but when I get them back will post pics of what was already done. Think my manifold is the limiting factor at the moment.

Took the Holley to a local bloke for a refresh and while at his shop discovered he ceramic coats stuff, so carby, rocker and timing covers, manifold are now black.

I've put a couple of 4WDs together and not sure why but it sems easy to set a budget and meet it with them. Helped a mate build a Holden 383 LC GTR over the last few years and that one blew the arse out of the bank account so told myself I'd try to avoid the same fate but my humble little SL Commodore is slowly pulling my pants down too. Hard to know when to call stumps. Not telling you anything new, I realise.

[46Crab]

No drama, thanks for the reply.
What head gaskets are you going to use?
You need need thread sealant on any head bolts, studs that go into the water jackets.
When you first run the engine up for the first few heat cycles just use water not coolant.

[COM081]

Yeah thanks, aware of thread sealant requirement and run-up on H2O only.

Dunno if you've seen previous thread but bought this engine with o-ringed block and receiver grooves in heads. Water leaked from ports and ran out side of heads. Bugger. New .050" copper gaskets going in from Ridgecrest Engineering who strongly recommend minimal Threebond 1207B around ports only.

[Castiron355]

I run 30 locked. Manual with 242/252, 11-1


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[BasicQ]

Report back if you can with locked out timing results, what it can take before pinging and/or starting issues.

Always good to build knowledge base with results of real world trials and testing.

MSD only giving the minimal option of 18* of mechanical advance. Is that design limitations within the distributor or are they being cautious in what they sell to Joe Sixpack?