I work my truck everyday and pull a 12,000 trailer every other day. What should I set my timing at? 15.5 and 16 were the lowest I found searching the forum. There was no mention of using the trucks for pulling. My local diesel shop said $120 to time my truck. This seems like a good price to me, is it?
Whats your opinion?

Thanks

 

16° works great for my 3500 that tows 24k.
$120 is such a good price it makes me wonder if they really know how to do it.
Make sure they are using the dial indicator method. If not go elsewhere. Some shops use the pull the timing gear off and guess method.
Preferred method discussed here> http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1994/18-10-94a.htm

 

Infidel,

Thanks for the reply. I did not know if working trucks ran the same timing as everyone else. What kind of improvements did you notice when you changed your timing? The shop I called comes highly recomended by several people. The person who answered the phone did not know much. I will talk to someone else when I call back and see what method they use.

 

The timing stays the same for a work truck or one that is modded if people are worried about popping the head gasket. A few more degrees of timing is needed to really rev the motor but 16 will get you over 3000 RPM with little to no worry about a HG failure. 16 degrees with make the motor run smoother at interstate speeds and increase fuel milage at the same time. Theoretically you will loose a little bottom end but mine felt stronger than it did at the factory 11.5 degrees. A timing advance may make it harder to start in cold weather also but I noticed no difference when I cranked mine up in 20 degree weather. The next 12 valve I get will have the timing bumped the second she hits my driveway. It helps that much.

 

Yeah, be careful about the pull the gear and guess method. That is how the last "mechanic" did my timing and neither he or I have any idea what it is. NOT HAPPY! Get it right the first time. I have to re-do it.

 

Just my two cents here

But i have my timing at 16.5 and it seems to work well for what i tow. I usually tow about 20K every so often and the truck performs flawlessly.. SO i would guess that anything between 15.5 and 17 would work really well...

Rick

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I will go ahead and have it set at 16 degrees.

Fred

 

I called another shop today and talked to the owner. He wanted $400 to time my truck. When I told him I wanted it set at 16, he said in not so many words that 16 was too much. And had an attitude about it. He will not be getting my money.

The first shop I called verified that it was only$120. When I told them X company wanted $400, they replied some shops charge way too much for their time.

What have you paid to have your truck timed?

 

An excellent diesel shop in my area charges $150 to check the timing and $225 to change it.
He will adjust the valves at the same time for $40 more.

 

Hey ! I just got mine out of the shop ! Man what a difference !
Had my timing bumped 16*, valves adjusted , new overflow valve new throttle cable (mine was fraying and not letting the pump go WOT, also my floormat was holding me back ! Labor for all above was $225, $33 for the valve covers, 66 for the cable $50 for the overflow valve. Got out around $400 Bucks. Dang she runs sweet ! I did not notice any loss of power in the low end,,,matter of fact its better in all rpm bands seems to me !

 

Scheid did mine for $112. They used a timing light off the #1 delivery valve somehow. Dont know how accurate it is, but the truck runs better, and I feel like its right, so im not complaining. Anyone have any info on if this is a good or bad way to change timing?

Eric