HEre is my data log sheet. I originaly thought i was getign 19.5 of timing but here is the truth. I must have been not paying attention when we datlogged it. Let me know what you think. My guess is that I need the damn MSD and I was detonating like crazy. I really hope this is the problem because my A/F ratio is all at .94-.96 throught the rpm range. I want to get this thing right because I cant afford to keep rebuilding my damn motor every couple weeks.

http://www.greenliquid.com:9000/cgi-bin/dirwrap.cgi?template=dsm&path=dsmpics/dsmpics/DaveT-GS/TimingChart&sort=by_date

There's quite a bit of timing advance in the 3k-4k rpm's. Other than that, it doesn't too bad. Air/fuel looks great.

It was the spool up in 2nd gear that KILLED you Dave(as farr as your datalogging showed)!! No matter how rich you were detonation was obviously present. When your turbo is spooling you have way to much timing. Sorry it had to happen this way. I could have advised you right away if you would have givin me some timing #'s :( Enough with the old motor. Get on with the rebuild and don't sell your car! It's a learning exspirence. You just need an MSD and you should be perfect ;-) Wideband tuning is EXTREMELY important too! Guy's this just's goes to show how important tuning is! EVERYONE MAKE NOTE!!!

Seems like I am always the guine pig on seeing how much can go wrong with the 420a. I hope some of you guys see this and learn from it. Yeah I am going to keep it. I was over at kieths house today greg and he said he still hasd the datalog shee tin his laptop so I decided to look at it for the hell of it. I am glad I did. I realy didnt think that second gear wouild be the gear that made the car detonate. But i guess it was the problem. New motor here I come!!!

you can 'detonate' with no load on the engine.. it's just no likely.

So what kind of timing should we be shooting for? Some say 24-25 and some sday 18-19. Which one is it?

I think 18-19 degrees are the numbers to shoot for, at least this is how it is for the 4G63. In theory, it should also apply to turbocharged 420A's.