Rocketeers Help with 324 timing

I have been trying to time my 55 324. I bring the #1 piston up to TDC on the compression stroke. The distributor rotor is facing straight at the carb and my timing mark is TDC. I just replaced the 55 distributor with a 56 using the 55 gear. I installed a Pertronix 2 electronic system. When I try to time her with her running I am about 20 degrees advanced and cant bring her back without stalling it. I have the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged. Any ideas

 

was the mechanical advance mechanism working freely on the '56 distributor?
you might also be suffering from "dampner slip" which is when the rubber goes bad and the outer part is no longer properly aligned.

 

I agree with that possibility, use a screwdriver in the spark plug hole to verify balancer. Despite this fact you should be able to time this thing. Try using a vacuum gauge plugged into manifold vacuum port. Reading should be a steady 18 to 20 inches, at idle, when timing is near correct. If balancer has slipped, and mine did, place in California does a nice rebuild job. PM me if balancer is off and I will get you their info.
Timing chain may be stretched as well?? Measure slop by removing distributor cap and watching how many degrees of movement, on tag, before rotor turns. Should not be any mopre than 4 degrees
JT

 

I used a screwdriver to set the TDC on the #1 piston and the dampner mark was right on. I will pull the distributor and check to make sure the advance is not stuck. I have double roller gears and chain already on my buy list for the first of September. I will have the dampner redone just to be sure then. Thanks

 

Maybe the wires are all off by one hole?

 

Are you running a generator? I know that the Pertronix units do not like generators. Try reinstalling points if you do have a generator to see if that helps.
Eric

 

Yes I am running a generator. I pulled the distributor and the vacuum advance is free. I set the timing with a vacuum gage this AM at 19". It runs and wont stall when in gear. Thanks for the heads up on the generator. Gives me the excuse to go ahead and buy a alternator. I will probably break the motor down this December. It sat for years wet and the people I got it from kept the 56 motor and just freed this 55 up enough to get it fired and then ran it until all the valves freed up.I will replace the #8 heads with #10 and install a 56 cam. The whole reason I bought the 56 was because of the motor. I just need it running so I can move it around.

 

I had the same issue with a 56 olds...

tried points,
tried all typical timing fixes.

Mine ended up being my valves.

I had previously gotten the heads rebuilt without checking into the place that did the work, and they did the rebuild using the wrong valves.

Had the heads re-done by a reputable builder ran like a top.

Expensive lesson.

 

Pulled the heads today. All the lifters are full of crap and frozen. Good oil at the rockers. Light coat on the push rods but lifters are as dry as a popcorn fart. Are there hollow push rods that will work on a 55 rocket? Will a 394 oil pump bolt to a 55 324? Want to increase oil flow. Already cleaned the rocker stands, shaft and arms. The cooling and oil ports on the heads and block were about half obstructed. And most of my rocker spring retainers are broken. I want to replace the #8 heads with #10 on my 55 rocket. If I use a 55 cam ground at 480/510 272 dur. With # 10 heads can I use stock 55 push rods and lifters?