timing light help

[aych]

Hello, I'm trying to modify my timing on my 88 camry le. (gen 2)
I've managed to get the light working and I see the dot on my pully, how ever I cannot find the "scale" people talk about to check angles. Also I cant find the adjustment in the distributor ><! i dont understand the service manuals.

Thanks

[fredk]

put the lite and book away and pull the timing up until it pings on slight acell, then back it down just a touch

[aych]

lol. sounds risky. wont internally detonate on me? and where should I be pulling the timing up?

[nogard]

I had to use the method FredK speaks of because my crank pulley is screwed up at the moment. It works, but it is still nice to have a reference. Plus if you are running your timing right on the edge of detonation, you have to pay attention when you are driving as the weather changes and with different fuel it might start to detonate at a later date.

You also need to study up on what you are doing. The only hard thing about setting the timing on the 3S-FE is the second distributor bolt that is under the distributor that is hard to see. Then first time I adjusted the timing I missed it and couldn't figure out why the hell I couldn't get the distributor to move. Live and learn.

[fredk]

leave the bottom one loose until you get it set, its not going to fall out, we have to set timing this way here because we have 85 gas and everything is above 4000 feet

[aych]

may be i need a more stupid question. where is the distributor? I'm looking at the thing under the distributor cap?! but I have 3 bolts it looks like

[Skiermang]

Originally Posted by aych

may be i need a more stupid question. where is the distributor? I'm looking at the thing under the distributor cap?! but I have 3 bolts it looks like

The distributor hold down bolts are on the outside of the distributor: no need to take the cap off.

Here's a picture of the bolts, circled in red, that hold the distributor down:


Loosen the two bolts and you can spin the distributor to adjust the timing.

[aych]

so am i spinning it CW or CCW?

[Skiermang]

I think spinning the distributer CCW advances the timing, but I don't recall exactly at the moment.

[fredk]

moving it against rotation advances and going with rotation retards it

[aych]

ok, so before i blow anything up.

start the car
let it warm up
loosen distributor bolts
and rotate against rotation which should bring it from original 10 to something like 15