Timing on a LQ4.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Timing on a LQ4. Hey guys new to the site and need some help. I got a LQ4 6.0 drop into a 1984 Monte Carlo. Put a Carb and dual plane intake on it, cam lift is 580, long tube headers, 350 trans, with a MSD box to fire the coils. Right now I got the timing set at 36 deq across the rpm curve. I don't know what the timing should be for the beat power. Going to be bracket race it and need it to run good. Not really mess with the new GM engine always had Big Blocks and still do in my other car. But already loving this new GM set up. I've heard that these engines don't like a lot of time but I don't know for sure. Thanks for any help....
Time to hit he track man, tune away, start where you are at, make a couple passes, than back off timing a degree or two at a time and then put timing back when it slows down.
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 859
Likes: 2
From: Frozen Tundra, WI
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Only got to take it to the track once made one run....broke the bell housing and the drive shaft try coming through the floor....so hopefully got all that fixed.....I was just looking for a starting point....
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
This might help you...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/carburete...ed-timing.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/carburete...ed-timing.html
I was wondering too, i dont really know what a good timing curve looks like. I have a carbed lq4 also with the edwlbrock box so i dont really have to worry yet. I wanna get the msd one once i get a cam to go with my heads.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Okay Guys got to go to the track tonite Won the gamblers race by the way. But always started with my timing at 30 degrees for 1200 to 6800 ran a 7.61... Moved timing to 32 degrees ran a 7.56... Moved to 34 degrees ran a 7.54. Went to 36 degrees ran a 7.52... Went to 38 ran a 7.56 again so went back to 36 degrees and went a 7.53 so i think 36 degrees will be it for me... I was just wondering if I should try curveing it down or up as it gains rpm?? The mph stay around 91 when moving the timing and the 60 ft time was consistent around a 1.700....
What about the MAP?? I have no idea what to do with it.... I put a the #6 chip in and just used the map from it....
And there is a Four Degrees difference between what I set it and what it is when the car is running.... Example set a 32 degrees and with the computer hooked up and car running says it's at 36 degrees.... Any reason for that??
Thanks for the help guys.....
What about the MAP?? I have no idea what to do with it.... I put a the #6 chip in and just used the map from it....
And there is a Four Degrees difference between what I set it and what it is when the car is running.... Example set a 32 degrees and with the computer hooked up and car running says it's at 36 degrees.... Any reason for that??
Thanks for the help guys.....
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 859
Likes: 2
From: Frozen Tundra, WI
Nice to hear you won...that always makes it more fun.
It seems fairly typical that guys will back the timing off by 2 degrees at peak torque...usually from 4000-4800 or so depending on your powerband obviously.
It seems fairly typical that guys will back the timing off by 2 degrees at peak torque...usually from 4000-4800 or so depending on your powerband obviously.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 859
Likes: 2
From: Frozen Tundra, WI
I seem to remember hearing that will work to disable the sensor. You could always plug it back in for street use. I also seem to remember reading that you could actually be pulling some vacuum even at WOT. You could try changing your MAP settings too. The psia reading/setting is opposite of vacuum but you probably realized that already.
The MAP won't hurt a thing if it's set correctly and it's good for a bit of mileage if you street drive any. If you don't want the MAP, don't do anything in your software, just ignore it. BTW, if you're using a chip all of your "software" timing curves are nulled out.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Yea I know I'm not using a chip....just setting by my computer.... So your saying ignore it....just un hook it or just zero it out.... And I am street driving it....picking on every Rustang I see hahahahaha....but Im braket racing to...just tryin to get as Consistent as possible.....
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 859
Likes: 2
From: Frozen Tundra, WI
I have been told by a pro-tuner that max MPG's is around 35* advance. Although, that is an EFI application so I don't know if there is a difference between that and carb timing for that also. What I am planning (at this point) to do with the MAP chart is...if you want say 12* advance, just put it at 12* from 0 to 4 psia and then down to 0* starting at 12 on out to 15 psia. This is a very basic curve but it should do the job well I hope...high vacuum/low psia is full advance and low vacuum/high psia is no advance. All I did was figure what my initial timing was at cruise speed (60 mph) and then figured what I would need in the MAP to get 35*...that difference is what the MAP # is. I would be interested to hear what others have done and how much timing they run...for MPG's.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have a lq4 in my 02 mustang
ls6 heads .580 lift cam
dynatech long tube headers
th350 trans
373 gears
msd ignition box
I ran the curve 6 tune from msd tweeked it just a little (turn the rev limiter to 7k, set the timing on the top end to 38°) an my fastest pass was a 7.47 at 93mph with a 1.7 60ft but consistently ran 7.6s all night but I’m on drag radials...
its my my first ls motor used to small blocks so pretty much just curious how far y’all have gone with the timing and if I can go any further..
i am tweeking a new set up adding a little more timing at idle to see if it gets me out the hole faster
ls6 heads .580 lift cam
dynatech long tube headers
th350 trans
373 gears
msd ignition box
I ran the curve 6 tune from msd tweeked it just a little (turn the rev limiter to 7k, set the timing on the top end to 38°) an my fastest pass was a 7.47 at 93mph with a 1.7 60ft but consistently ran 7.6s all night but I’m on drag radials...
its my my first ls motor used to small blocks so pretty much just curious how far y’all have gone with the timing and if I can go any further..
i am tweeking a new set up adding a little more timing at idle to see if it gets me out the hole faster
