Timing question

Tiny
JDUB80
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  • 1986 JEEP CJ7
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 106,000 MILES
I know I read a post with your timing values, but I can't find them. Since you seem to be the only person paying this information online with a Holley on your CJ, I want to get close to your settings then tweak for my engine.

Update, Carl is running good. Unfortunately, I tried to run down the highway and couldn't accelerate past 35 mph. He just wouldn't speed up, so I'm fairly certain I haven't got the timing right.

Thanks in advance bud!
Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 10:37 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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I may be misunderstanding you.

Do you know how to properly time your Jeep?

Here are some specs:

I'm presently running 8 B on mine.

I may still drop one jet size and maybe do the same as below to get better MPGs.

I feel you could experiment between 8 B and 16 B @ maybe 700-750 RPM and not suffer drastically.

I have this for you too, if you don't already have the paper version.

http://www.toeksplace.com/jeep/chilton/2_TuneUpandPerformanceMaintenance.pdf

Let me know if this is what you wanted.

The Medic

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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
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I had thought you were running 12B and couldn't remember your total timing or the rpm you had, nor could I remember how much vacuum advance you had or if it was ported or manifold.

Your I6 and Holley 390 are the closest I've found to my I6 and Holley 470. Seems like a good baseline for comparisons. Also, seeing as I am a rookie, I'd like to have some reassurance that I'm on the right track.

Might be a stupid question, but do you remember me from my carburetor tuning post? You and Steve helped me tremendously and humbled me even more! Lol

Thanks,
Jeff
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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
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Almost forgot, the link you gave me looks like some great information. I'll read thorough it tomorrow on my breaks. Thanks!
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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 9:29 PM
Tiny
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Keep us posted with progress.

The Medic
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 AT 4:09 PM
Tiny
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Well, I adjusted initial to 11B (20in hg), mechanical is roughly 22, kept adjusting the vacuum advance until I was about 44 degrees total at 3k rpm. Made a few carb tweaks, 52 primary jets, still 57 secondaries (seems too big), 10.5 power valve, can't remember which squirter I have in right now. (I could be a lil off on those numbers. I tried several setups, but I think that was the final one)

With all these tweaks, I was able to drive to and from work in rush hour traffic & pushed him (a lil farther than I should have) all the way up to 72mph.

I can feel a few things that are still a lil off, but he's a completely different jeep now!

So, I think we've got a winner. I'll keep fine tuning until I'm happy, but he's currently my daily driver.

Now onto a few things I've put off until now. Motor and transmission mounts, new shackles and bushing, steering dampener. Might even do a fan upgrade to a clutch fan (still researching that tho) will eventually clean up all wiring and such under the hood, repaint the engine, and add insulation to the firewall.

First, I gotta fix my driver seat, inner frame broke so it leans back & to the right. I'm not super tall so it makes it hard to depress the clutch fully. I'd replace but they're the factory seats and don't wanna lose them.

As you see, I'll probably be back looking for lil pointers from time to time. There's still a couple projects to work on. Lol

Keep jeeping!
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
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I've had a set of Bestop seats for several years sitting in my man cave, my buddy came over a few weeks ago and helped me put them in.

The ones we took out were "Steel Horse" which I installed back in 1991 when I got this CJ-5. I think there is a tear or two (or not) in them but that's all been covered up with nice vinyl seat covers. I'm thinking I got the covers just to protect the seats. It's tough when you can't remember stuff like you used to.

These Bestops are a little wider at the bottom and don't wedge my butt with the side pieces as the others did.

A picture from around 2010 of the old ones without the covers at the bottom.

I'll be waiting to aid you if need be.

Should you start a new question, ask for me if you want to.

The Medic
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM
Tiny
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Hey Medic, how you been?

I'm finally wanting to get my carburetor adjusted right and figured I'd see what setup you use in cold and warm weather (if they vary) before I started buying a ton of parts I may never need.

Probably mainly looking for your jet sizes, plus any advice you think might be appropriate for seasonal climate adjustments.

As always, thanks in advance! Without you I'd have sold my Jeep within a month of getting him. Glad you stopped that!

Almost forgot, those seats look good. I've decided to save my pennies for a set too.
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Thursday, February 20th, 2020 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
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I have "52"s in there now (which is one size up than originally came in the carb, 390 0-8007).

I found that in the extreme cold that seems to go leaner than I like and I have increased the size by one more (53).

Send pics of your seats (the crappy parts), I'd like to see how bad they are!

I'm glad you kept the Jeep! I've owned nothing but CJs since 1981, I would die if I had to do without one!

The Medic
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Friday, February 21st, 2020 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
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Sorry, I just saw the notification that you'd responded (my email has been weird lately) thanks for the jet sizes. I've got 52s on my primary and 57s on my secondary now and they're way too big. I'll see about dropping them a little and get all 4 the same size.

As far as the seats, only my driver seat is having an issue and it leans back a little more than it should, and more on the right than the left. Passenger seat is fine.
I'll try to get pics once the sun comes up.
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Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 AT 4:40 AM
Tiny
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I saw in your profile that you "sit behind a desk".

Have you seen this puppy (all the views too)?

https://www.ebay.com/i/152732243628?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=152732243628&targetid=877051577749&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1025566&poi=&campaignid=9426387573&mkgroupid=96480184500&rlsatarget=pla-877051577749&abcId=1140476&merchantid=8124124&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4sjyBRC5ARIsAEHsELFuNwHt-kwq7VEI7s_khJKgX1HTa57tLDAcYxLFVDtFEEKDD8YrVIUaAi71EALw_wcB

I like it!

'Course, my buddy and I might have enough stuff out in the woods to do it ourselves. The ole red one might qualify all by itself.

The Medic
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Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 AT 12:58 PM
Tiny
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That desk is awesome! Unfortunately mine is the corporate kinda junk and that upgrade wouldn't be allowed.
However I'd love to see my bosses face when he saw it on a Monday morning!

As far as seat pictures, once the sun came up, the rain clouds came out and I never got a chance to take ant. Or do anything else I had on my to do list today
Overall the seats look good, only the seat back leans for the driver. I've got a welder buddy, might see what we're can figure out before I order some

Anyway, gotta get some sleep to go sit behind my boring desk tomorrow
You should definitely build you one like that link though and I say try to keep the patina on the red Jeep and build one.
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Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
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I'm not much on the patina thing.

I want things to look new right off the assembly line!

Here's some pics of Willy hours after my best paint job. This is before the insignia went on.

Waiting for your updates!

The Medic
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Monday, February 24th, 2020 AT 6:28 PM

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