5SFE Timing Questions

[bizox]

Hello,
My wife has a 93 Celica GT Convertible, recently the timing belt decided to break clean in half. After replacing it and a few other items I accidentally set my timing to 5 degrees BTDC. And I have noticed it accelerates like my 3/4 race cam 280zx n/a. No power until 2000 rpm's then once you hit 3000 rpm's the car actually tries to pull hard. Now the transmission is automatic so it shifts at 5000 rpm's but im thinking if it was a manual it would pull all the way to at least 6000 rpm's.

I'm going to adjust it to 10 degrees after TDC but I was wondering has anyone with a turbo'd celi has ran it with degrees BTDC? And did they like it, did it pull harder higher in the rpm's. And if anyone is a timing guru and would like to lay it on me please do and thanks.

[mrturrari]

Timing will always be measured in BTDC because once the piston is moving down you are just loosing compression. 5 degrees BTDC is basically 5 degrees retarded from stock (10*BTDC) and should give you more torque down low but it also may cause misfires and more fuel burning in your exhaust. That part can help spool a turbo but it is also harder on things like your cat. It's like peddling a bicycle using only the bottom half of the stroke, great for getting moving but not for moving fast.