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Which timing light to buy. #461546 09/07/09 09:30 AM 09/07/09 09:30 AM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA F flatiron OP super stock
flatiron OP super stock F Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA	I need to place a order to summit and was thinking of also getting a timing light since I don't own one. I see alot of choices and alot of price differences. Some are self powered. What would serve me well as a good allaround light?

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461547 09/07/09 09:45 AM 09/07/09 09:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,542 BROOK PARK, OH WILD BILL Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
WILD BILL Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,542 BROOK PARK, OH	I have a craftsman W/ adj advance. Then I noticed when you do a compare on Summit's website that some are "Not compatible with multi-spark ignition." Now I'm wondering what the deal is and if mine is doing me any good.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461548 09/07/09 09:59 AM 09/07/09 09:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,708 S. Il. U.S.A. 5spdcuda top fuel
5spdcuda top fuel Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,708 S. Il. U.S.A.	I have both an Actron standard timing light and a Craftsman dial back. The Craftsman is dead on when compared either to the Actron or to the timing marks on the degreed damper. If I had only one I would go with the Craftsman dial back since you don't need a degreed damper to set total advance. It is worth noting that not all dial backs are as accurate as the Craftsman. Several years ago one of the car mags did a comparison test and the Craftsman was the best.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461549 09/07/09 10:03 AM 09/07/09 10:03 AM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,708 S. Il. U.S.A. 5spdcuda top fuel
5spdcuda top fuel Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,708 S. Il. U.S.A.	Just a short follow up to my earlier reply. I use a Crane multi spark CD ignition and both lights work fine with it.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: 5spdcuda] #461550 09/07/09 10:31 AM 09/07/09 10:31 AM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA F flatiron OP super stock
flatiron OP super stock F Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA	I noticed while reading that some are not compataible with multi spark systems and if you read info on a MSD system (which I plan on doing over the winter) They call for a self powered light. I was looking at a Summit Sum-G1059 but I don't belive this will work with a MSD system on down the road. Will it?

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461551 09/07/09 11:15 AM 09/07/09 11:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	I picked up a Flaming River single cable unit from Summit.... best light I have for MSD ignitions

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461552 09/07/09 11:44 AM 09/07/09 11:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 959 Cincinnati,Ohio J jcastle1 super stock
jcastle1 super stock J Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 959 Cincinnati,Ohio	I have an extra Equus pro digital advance light that works great.Let me know if your interested. John

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461553 09/07/09 11:55 AM 09/07/09 11:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	With a MSD ign the blue one on the left is most accurate and bright. The Flaming River is a very good light and simple to use on MSD systems. Reg ign systems I have had good luck with Craftsman lights. I had timing tape on one of my cars but it came off while ago so I picked this dial back Craftsman which works well on my Mopars with reg ign. For a reg light, the Flaming River unit is hard to beat. IMO

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #461554 09/07/09 12:35 PM 09/07/09 12:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA F flatiron OP super stock
flatiron OP super stock F Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 724 PA USA	Quote: I picked up a Flaming River single cable unit from Summit.... best light I have for MSD ignitions The self powered one Summit# FR1001?

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461555 09/07/09 01:20 PM 09/07/09 01:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 11,684 W. Kentucky justinp61 I Live Here
justinp61 I Live Here Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 11,684 W. Kentucky	I use my Dads old standard Craftsman, we bought it for him probably 35 years ago.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: justinp61] #461556 09/07/09 02:57 PM 09/07/09 02:57 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,456 Out West 4 408strokerdart master
408strokerdart master 4 Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,456 Out West	I had a self powered Faming River....lasted for about 4 uses over 2 years and now fails to function at all. Bought an Actron (same as the MSD timing light) self powered off the bag for $75. It works with my MSD just fine.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: 408strokerdart] #461557 09/07/09 03:33 PM 09/07/09 03:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	I've used a dial-back Snap-on unit for many years. Nice bright strobe that works well in sun light. Fastest 300

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: 408strokerdart] #461558 09/07/09 03:37 PM 09/07/09 03:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,095 Idaho Runner master
Runner master Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,095 Idaho	ive used the snot out of my flaming river timing light. i bought a equUis 3555 dial back light and it is easily the biggest piece of crap ive ever used. it is easily 15 degrees off and thats when its not bouncing all over the place. made me really chase a detenation problem i had with my daughters car. went back to the flaming river light and bought some timing tape and the problem was gone.

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: Runner] #461559 09/08/09 11:53 AM 09/08/09 11:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT GTX MATT master
GTX MATT master Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,161 CT	I have an Actron standard one and my dad has an old Craftsman with dialback. The Craftsman is probably 25 years old, and the dialback funtion is now HIGHLY inaccurate. Its about 7 degrees off, give or take. Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: GTX MATT] #461560 09/08/09 12:09 PM 09/08/09 12:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,293 Rock Springs Bob_Coomer master
Bob_Coomer master Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,293 Rock Springs	I have had good luck out of a Acutron dial back timing light. I have checked it against the higher dollar Snap-On, and other brand timing lights...It has always been accurate. [color:"red"]65 Hemi Belvedere coming soon [/color] [color:"#00FF00"]557" Indy engine 1.07 60ft 144mph in the 8th 2100 lbs package [/color]

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: Runner] #461561 09/08/09 12:12 PM 09/08/09 12:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: ive used the snot out of my flaming river timing light. i bought a equUis 3555 dial back light and it is easily the biggest piece of crap ive ever used. it is easily 15 degrees off and thats when its not bouncing all over the place. made me really chase a detenation problem i had with my daughters car. went back to the flaming river light and bought some timing tape and the problem was gone. Same here... I love using the Flaming River unit, I bought one of those Equis units.... tried to use it and found out it was useless... it sits on a shelf somewhere

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: flatiron] #461562 09/08/09 12:57 PM 09/08/09 12:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion	I`ve been using a Sunpro for years and compared it to a high dollar model that Jason Pettis uses in his dyno room and it was 1 deg. off. Since it`s my tuning aid my #`s are all that matters and I don`t loan it to anyone ever.....just like my tire guage. 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #461563 09/08/09 01:00 PM 09/08/09 01:00 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 654 Lexington,VA 6 68gtxsurvivor mopar
68gtxsurvivor mopar 6 Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 654 Lexington,VA	So what would be correct for msd system? Non adj timing light?

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: 68gtxsurvivor] #461564 09/08/09 01:03 PM 09/08/09 01:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 15,478 the boonies aarcuda I Live Here
aarcuda I Live Here Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 15,478 the boonies	Quote: So what would be correct for msd system? Non adj timing light? that would work. or an adjustable light set at 0. btw, how are you people verifying the accuracy of your lights? just comparing it to another light? just remember- a man with two watches never knows what time it really is (unless one of them is the atomic clock run by the govt)

Re: Which timing light to buy. [Re: aarcuda] #461565 09/09/09 01:08 AM 09/09/09 01:08 AM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion	I compared mine to one of the baddest builders around here knowing his was fairly accurate and adjusted my motor from there and looked at my timeslips to determine my best timing. Doesn`t matter if it`s 20 degs. or 40 as long as my car performs and doesnt get hurt and 8+ years later, it`s still going strong. And like an old wise man once told me(thankxx Cab),they are my numbers for my car and don`t loan em out......... 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

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