Timing advance issues :-(
 

Ok so my car is a 95 Vert. I really like the car its nice, has 5 speed, Leather 18 saleens, SLP loudmouth .. But really lags in the get up and go department. It sounds like it would be mean but its just a front.. I dropped my car off at a shop to have the timing bumped for more power.. I picked it up and the car felt a tiny bit snappier but was popping and pinging like crazy. I brought it back and they set the timing back to stock.. Was something done wrong? I run high octane gas and not 87. There seems to be a lag in pedal responce, when i step on it in frst it pulls for a second, then kind of has nothing and then starts pulling again? Any ideas on whats going on or a diagram with pics of how to do the timing advance. Thanks

I think you need to get a friend that is good with these cars and have them look at it. 1st thing I would do is clean the MAF Sensor, I had a 95 that did similar things are which you are describing and that was part of my problem. I then bumped the timing to 12* instead of 8* and it was a little better than before. Those are the things I would do first, then if that doesn't work, try getting a new ignition set such as Accel 300+ or MSD and see if that gives you a better spark and better response.

I am in the middle of playing with a '95 and noticed that they are really sensative to timing adj. Fox 5.0 you could go up to 18-20 sometimes but the 94-95 I can't seem to get past 12 without pinging. It's a relatively simple process to play with the timing, but you can't maximize your timing without taking care of the small stuff (plugs, wires, coil, injector cleaning, maf cleaning) Once all that stuff is up to par, set your timing to 10 or 12 (with the spout (little grey plastic electrical plug) removed over on the pass side fender well around the MAF/Air cleaner). Put the spout conector back once base timing is set - I like to put a dab of paint on the base of the distributor and another dab that lines up on the block. Then take it out and put it under load to carefully see if it pings. If it pings, turn the distributor ever so slightly (1/16th of an inch or so) counterclockwise, if no ping then turn it slightly clockwise to advance further. Keep playing with it. You can also bump up the fuel pressure if you have an AFPR to help out. Also, those cars are very sensitive to operating temperature, if you have the stock computer program you need to keep a relatively stock thermostat (180 - 195)

I know all cars are different with timing advance or mods and so on. My 95 GT, i set the timing to 16 and it was perfect. I used 93 octane with no pinging ever. I would slowly keep bumping it up till you here it ping and then back it off one or two degrees, with 93 octane and like mentioned, have everything up to par also. good luck with it.

Thanks for the replies The thing im running into now is IF i give my car full throttle it kind of bogs down but when i back out of the trottle even just a hair, the power comes back??? Whats up with this car, My timing is back to were it is supposed to be. I dont know if its a fuel issue filter maybey ? I have not gotten my maff ported or anything everything is stock other then the headers, x pipe and loud mouth exhaust?? Anybody have any ideas? Ps i had another 95 gt and only thing done to it was cold air intake and timing bump and that made a world of difference. (i traded my 95 trans am even for it) and didnt want to trade after i felt the difference in power from the trans am to the mstang.. but after the timing bump and stuff i was content on power. SOS HELP. :-)

the distribitor could be off a tooth, fuel filter, or the fuel pump.

Timing is timing, so if you advance it or a shop does, it will still ping. Seems to me so you some bigger issues. If you want to make thr investment, I would take it to a good shop and get it dyno-tuned. The should will know what the limits should be and if the car has issues and then can address appropriately.