"Bird" (Bird)
10/06/2013 at 22:10 • Filed to: Timing is Everything
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"Bird" (Bird)
10/06/2013 at 22:10 • Filed to: Timing is Everything | 4
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My Miata hadn't ran quite as well since I got it back from my mechanic. Normally I do my own work, but I decided I didn't want to deal with it this time and sent the car out for a timing belt job. They said the timing was off when I took it in. It probably was bumped up a few degrees by the previous owner so I didn't think anything of it. I needed to get the car smogged, so I intended to leave it until then, and then bump it back up for a couple more HP. I got more than a couple. They had the timing way retarded.
Evidently they had it set to about 7-8º BTDC. Stock it should be 10º. Guys bump it anywhere from 12-16º for a little better performance. As a side note you should run premium if you advance your timing. I set mine to about 14-15º (I always run premium), but I went for a test drive and it pinged under heavy load close to redline. Went home and grabbed a wrench and ended up just adjusting it by feel. Drive, back it down, drive, etc. Ended up at about 13º. Runs great, and the throttle response is amazing now. The car must have a lightened or lightweight flywheel, revs quicker than any other miata I've ever driven.
PlayerWAN
> Bird
10/06/2013 at 22:31 |
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My Miata is coming up on the timing belt job. I don't even want to think about it but it seems I'll be doing the work myself. I'm not too excited about it. What year is yours?
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Bird
> PlayerWAN
10/06/2013 at 22:41 |
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Mine's a '90. I did the timing belt on my '91 and adjusted the valve clearance on it too. It was easy though. The engine was (and still is unfortunately) out of the car. So really it was more like adjusting the valves and putting the timing belt on after I got the bottom end back from the engine builder!
Dsscats
> Bird
10/07/2013 at 00:24 |
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"They had the timing way retarded."
They went way retarded. You never go way retarded.