[Sweet-34]

Bought a new HEI for my crate 350ci. My buddy started messing with the springs in the HEI. He lost the stock springs!!!! How do I know what springs are stock and where do I buy them?

He put in one blue and one gray and set the Total timing around 32-34. I don't like it!!!! It cranks slow from time to time. He says that's normal.

I set the timing back to 8 degrees btdc with his lighter springs installed. It run crappy....no performance....backfire on acceleration etc. Bumped the timing back up to 12-14 degrees on the timing tab. Runs OK....but not great!!!

I never had the chance to try it with the stock springs and new crate motor. Any help would be appreciated.

Sweet-34

[poncho62]

Probably can get some from the GM dealer. I would also buy a performance advance kit, which comes with weights and 3 sets of springs. That way you can experiment some more.

[60convert]

I would find a good rebuilder and have them set it. I am not sure if ignition man is on this site but he is on others he does the best out there tell him what you want and he will build it and tell you here to set it and from there its a drop in deal
Jesse

[Mr. Green]

NAPA should have a set of springs, Just ask them for a HEI distributor re-curve kit

It should have three sets of springs, the whights and the bushings in it

Ben

[DoubleVision]

is the vacuum advance connected to a manifold or ported vacuum source? set the spark timing to 12 degrees BTDC with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged, then connect the vacuum advance to a manifold source and see how it runs, if detonation is detected, back off the timing 2 degree`s at a time until it stops, then it`s set.

[lust4speed]

Your friend had the right idea. Set max advance and work backwards from there. Have your buddy reset the total advance where it was, but this time install the heaviest springs you have in the kit. The light springs could allow too much advance at cranking speed. If this doesn't help, then you will need to have a shop spread out the curve a bit.

Basically, if your engine likes 34 degrees total and only 14 initial, then your distributor needs to be curved for 20 engine degrees advance (14 initial plus 20 equals 34 total). Right now, it sounds like you might have a very limited advance curve, and working backwards you would have 34 max - 16 mechanical equals 18 initial which could allow your engine to crank hard.