[David Jones]

I had the cap off of my HEI and decided to clean and lube things. I noticed the weights were 139’s. I find no ID on the centerplate at all. Is there a way to determine what it is otherwise?

[DarcyL]

Take the center plate off, and flip it over- it should be stamped on the bottom side-

[David Jones]

“At all”

[Sun Tuned]

David is this a “new” hei? Offshore?

If so can you post a pic of it? Bet it’s an unhardened, generic if there’s no numbers on it.

All GM HEI had numbers on the advance parts. Fwiw

[Sun Tuned]

Unless it’s one I did awhile back. Got a pic?

[steve25]

Yup, they can ware darn fast if they are not hardened!

Don't fret, as it's easy to temper them harder at home with a propane torch.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Sun Tuned

Unless it’s one I did awhile back. Got a pic?

I think it is one you set up for my 400 years ago.

[David Jones]

It took a little thinking back, but I believe this one was set up for my 400, which liked a LOT of initial. 18. I took the dist I had in the current 455 out (Pertronix?) and put this one in about 3 years ago and before I could do anything A guy hit the GTO and it spent the next 1.5+ years in body shop jail. Then , fairly immediately after I got it back, I tore my shoulder up and have spent the time since then dealing with that. Today I go to a shoulder specialist to see about a replacement, but that’s a different story.
My intention when I opened it up was to lube things and see what centerplate this had and adjust from there with a trip to the Pull A Part this Saturday. It currently has about 14/15 degrees mechanical and I’d like 20/21. I’m not sure what the surgical schedule is gonna be, but once that’s done, I’m probably out of the working on the GTO business for a good while.

[Sun Tuned]

That’s one of mine.

Not sure where the springs went but I looked back and originally that was shipped with 12 in the distributor (24 crank degrees).

Depending on the springs that were on it when you last checked it they could’ve been light enough to allow some override. The springs I had originally on it would have alleviated that issue.

If you need some more just let me know in case yours got ancy and ran away.

[68lemans462]

Originally Posted by Sun Tuned

That’s one of mine.

Not sure where the springs went but I looked back and originally that was shipped with 12 in the distributor (24 crank degrees).

Depending on the springs that were on it when you last checked it they could’ve been light enough to allow some override. The springs I had originally on it would have alleviated that issue.

If you need some more just let me know in case yours got ancy and ran away.

Agree, I have one that looks JUST like it.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by David Jones

It took a little thinking back, but I believe this one was set up for my 400, which liked a LOT of initial. 18. I took the dist I had in the current 455 out (Pertronix?) and put this one in about 3 years ago and before I could do anything A guy hit the GTO and it spent the next 1.5+ years in body shop jail. Then , fairly immediately after I got it back, I tore my shoulder up and have spent the time since then dealing with that. Today I go to a shoulder specialist to see about a replacement, but that’s a different story.
My intention when I opened it up was to lube things and see what centerplate this had and adjust from there with a trip to the Pull A Part this Saturday. It currently has about 14/15 degrees mechanical and I’d like 20/21. I’m not sure what the surgical schedule is gonna be, but once that’s done, I’m probably out of the working on the GTO business for a good while.

I had lithotripsy yesterday. Pee’n is an adventure! Praying for your best!

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Sun Tuned

That’s one of mine.

Not sure where the springs went but I looked back and originally that was shipped with 12 in the distributor (24 crank degrees).

Depending on the springs that were on it when you last checked it they could’ve been light enough to allow some override. The springs I had originally on it would have alleviated that issue.

If you need some more just let me know in case yours got ancy and ran away.

The springs were laying on the workbench. I’m pretty sure they came on it, one of them looks like it has a dab of the reddish ink on it? I don’t remember what I had for breakfast but I remember you saying more than once over the years that most available springs were junk.

Before I fool with it further, I’ll lube it a bit and then test the spread again. Maybe Saturday.

Lube? I’ve read yes lube and also no lube. Just clean. What’s right?

Many thanks.

Surgery Feb 3rd. Reverse replacement. He said six weeks and I’d be good to go.

[68lemans462]

Originally Posted by David Jones

The springs were laying on the workbench. I’m pretty sure they came on it, one of them looks like it has a dab of the reddish ink on it? I don’t remember what I had for breakfast but I remember you saying more than once over the years that most available springs were junk.



Before I fool with it further, I’ll lube it a bit and then test the spread again. Maybe Saturday.



Many thanks.



Surgery Feb 3rd. Reverse replacement. He said six weeks and I’d be good to go.

I ran into the exact same problem with my 455 in too much advance after moving the same distributor from a 400 to a 455. The easy way to fix is just to install a limiter and get it to about 20 degrees mechanical and you should be all set. Even if you were not having the stated problems a limiter is a good idea either way. Cliff has posted several excellent articles on how to do this and it's pretty easy. My 455 seems to like about 30 or 32 degrees total I usually run it around 30 dgs

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[David Jones]

I can’t seem to get 14/15 crankshaft. I’m looking for more.

[David Jones]

Lube? Apparently my memory is short. http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...39#post3572739

[Sun Tuned]

See the tech thread archive Sticky link at very top of this section. Scroll down 13 topics and click.

That’ll get you hooked up on lube.

Little 30w or so on the pins for up north or little grease for down south and you’ll be good. I prefer the oil period.

[Sun Tuned]

Well I think we got something sticky somewhere. That thing should put 24 on the crank out there with ease. Not sure yet what’s going on there.

FWIW those of you wanting 10 in the distributor can use a factory 389 stamped center plate. If you’d like a degree less find a set of 045/053 weights to go with it.

Since that’s a 24 crank degree cam and your only seeing 14/15 I’d say there is something sticking or maybe the dial back function on the light being used is being a touch tricky.

With the shoulder thing getting in the way I understand but you know I’ll fix it if there’s something other than the light causing an issue. Nobody beats my warranty on these things. I’d send you a “more “ center cam but you already got the “most” I ever had.

Get that shoulder well and we look further into this...