Checking 1991 Timing

[abovenbeyond]

Hello all,
Considering I just bought the car, I just changed the oil, lubed the chassis, replaced the air & fuel filter, changed the plugs, cap & rotor, and found a question when looking at the timing...When I looked at the timing tab, it looks like there is a round hole and like 3 teeth as you go further from the hole.

Where should the timing be set to? I see no numbers on the tab and have no clue what the teeth represent?

Here are my specs, I have the 305, free flow 2.5" exhaust, Automatic of course. And I am at about 6500 feet elevation.

Any help would be appreciated.

[CD Smalley]

Get some carb cleaner and a rag and clean that tab off. You'll be able to see the marks and numbers then.

Also, you'll need to find the EST wire, brown w/black stripe, and disconnect it. Should be on passenger side near the firewall with a weather pack connector.

Timing should be 0* IIRC.

[abovenbeyond]

I thought I remembered something about a plug, it effects the electronic timing right?

Anyways, on my engine the timing tab is behind the water pump and looks hard to reach for cleaning, it does not look so dirty, I just see no numbers or lines for that matter. Thats why I assumed the notches meant certain degrees? Do they not?

Also the tab certainly has a round hole tube like deal on one end, what does that signify?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by abovenbeyond

I thought I remembered something about a plug, it effects the electronic timing right?

Anyways, on my engine the timing tab is behind the water pump and looks hard to reach for cleaning, it does not look so dirty, I just see no numbers or lines for that matter. Thats why I assumed the notches meant certain degrees? Do they not?

Also the tab certainly has a round hole tube like deal on one end, what does that signify?

If you look on your distributor, you will see two wire harnesses coming out of the side. One has 4 wires and the other has two wires. The two wire harness is the power for the distributor (and, by extension, the engine), so don't remove it. Remove the 4-wire harness, which is the ESC wire. With this wire removed (ignore the service eng soon light), start the engine and set your static timing to 0. Plug the wire back in and you're set.