# Timing lights... Old school, or new? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cutlass, oldsmobile\ **Created:** [March 22, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138 "2022-03-22T15:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indianadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc348/32.png) [@Indianadave](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indianadave)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/1 "2022-03-22T15:39:51Z")
Poll on timing lights… Would you buy a vintage one, or a new one? I’ve got an old Craftsman, but it doesn’t have the advance dial on it. Debating finding a used one, or buying a new one. I have experienced the “They don’t make them like they used to” too often with tools and other new products. I’m leaning towards getting one like my old Craftsman, except the higher model that has the advance dial. It’s going to be used on my Oldsmobile 455… ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/2 "2022-03-22T16:04:15Z")
Get a Sun, with the advance meter. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/3 "2022-03-22T17:07:12Z")
I have never needed an dial-in advance meter for my light. My Craftsman is accurate and the last car I needed a timing light for had a degreed balancer so just no need. You, too can degree your balancer if you feel the need to check your mechanical and vacuum advance. You can make your own sticker with a label maker and stick it on. You only need go to 40 degrees advanced. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/4 "2022-03-26T17:43:24Z")
I agree with the above. I’ve timed hundreds of cars and never had the need for a timing light with an advance. It’s easy enough to add a few timing marks to the balancer, either with chalk, nail polish, tape, or similar. I would usually eyeball the advance mark. For example, if the advance spec called for 10 degrees at idle and 30 degrees at 2000 rpm, I would look at the distance between TDC and the 10 degree mark, and use that to help gauge where the 30 degree mark should be. It’s been a while, but I recall it was pretty easy to spot when the advance wasn’t working or if it would stick. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/5 "2022-03-26T18:55:22Z")
> [@JoeMario](#): > > It’s easy enough to add a few timing marks to the balancer, either with chalk, nail polish, tape, or similar. White out was my go to. Lasts a long time. Never used a timing light with advance, ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/6 "2022-03-26T19:12:09Z")
I bought a $20 set at Target about 50 years ago. Burned the timing light out but still have the rest. It’s all I need and have no desire to get a new light. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/7 "2022-03-26T19:14:04Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > White out was my go to Can you still find white out? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/8 "2022-03-26T19:21:26Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > Can you still find white out? Yeah they still have it. Mine dried out though. I don’t know if you can still get the colored stuff. I remember watching the secretary making multiple carbon copies in the typewriter with different color paper for the copies. Then made a mistake and pulled out her set of multiple colors of white out to make the correction. Easy peasy now, just back spate space. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/9 "2022-03-26T19:27:51Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > Can you still find white out? Sure I watch forged in fire and they use it for some reason making canisters ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/10 "2022-03-27T18:21:16Z")
I still have a timing light. But haven’t owned a vehicle in over 20 years I can use it on. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/11 "2022-03-28T00:03:14Z")
I have two vintage-60’s era Sears (Craftsman) timing lights, both continue to work well. I have occasionally wished I had the advance feature. Like if it clear the timing is advanced but you want to know how much and can’t read the engine dial b/c it is gunked up. So I think your idea to buy a vintage version but with advance is a reasonable idea. No idea regarding the durability and reliability of newer versions. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/12 "2022-03-28T13:32:29Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > Sure I watch forged in fire and they use it for some reason making canisters Whiteout contains Titanium Dioxide, and it **can** help to keep the canister from welding to the billet. The problem most contestants have with it, is that they don’t let it dry completely before filling the canister. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/13 "2022-03-28T15:25:37Z")
The only thing I’ve used my timing light on in the past several decades was an old outboard motor. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/15 "2022-03-28T16:04:07Z")
> [@art1966](#): > > (Yeah, I know I’m hijacking the thread.) Then why do it ? I can almost guarantee you will be flagged as Spam . ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/16 "2022-03-28T21:27:12Z")
Like teeth, everybody is given only so many flags (not) so we must be judicious in their use. Show me the man with no teeth and I will show you the man that doth flagged too much. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/17 "2022-03-28T21:56:10Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Show me the man with no teeth and I will show you the man that doth flagged too much. Try and hit me! Not sure what you are trying to say! ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/18 "2022-03-28T23:30:29Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > Try and hit me! Not sure what you are trying to say! Post 13. Art posted something and the comment was made why post what could be spam and what surely will be flagged. I believe flags should be reserved for people pushing fraudulent schemes, bad language, and other serious issues, not innocent matters. But I didn’t open the link so don’t know how bad it is. but hey green flags are kinda pretty. Edit: Well how about that. It’s gone already so some anonymous person flagged it. ---
**Author:** ![art1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@art1966](https://community.cartalk.com/u/art1966)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/19 "2022-03-29T00:24:31Z")
My humorous reference was flagged/removed? OK. I am chastised. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/20 "2022-03-29T00:36:16Z")
Posts here are usually only removed if they seem to be advertising something, or they contain expletives that would be beyond what would be allowed on the Car Talk radio show. Humorous posts are not only allowed, but encouraged. It’s Car Talk after all. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138/21 "2022-03-29T00:44:32Z")
> [@art1966](#): > > My humorous reference was flagged/removed? OK. I am chastised. Like I said, flags are pretty green. (edit out) Usually if I do it, the person knows who and why. Like when someone was overloading the system with jibberish, just to shut it down. It took 7 flags to shut it down without intervention. edit: Car Talk encourages flags though as a means of self-policing. I personally think they should be reserved for serious matters but it’s their/there/they’re show. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-lights-old-school-or-new/183138.md?page=2)