timing* and boost question

[87GNcospg]

im still a newbie to a few things under the hood of my buick, so if the following few sentences make some of your heads explode cause i dont make any sense than i am sorry.

alright, so when our cars begin to knock, the computer will lower/pull back the timing of our vehicles. correct? which is like a safety precaution to try and stop the detonation that is occuring. lowering timing makes you go slower right? i have heard that the stock chip has about 24*(?) and i have just put in a reds 93 which has 20*(i have been told). well if the reds is lowering my timing but i am keeping my boost at the stock setting (14-15lbs), will this make my car slower than if i were to keep the stock chip in which has more timing? i ask because i have heard that lowering timing but adding more boost will help you more, but if i am lowering my timing and not touching the boost than it seems like i am only hurting the speed of the car. reason i am not turning the boost up is because i have the BstC but only a single solenoid and no adjustable wastegate, so my range is 8-15lbs of boost. plus i havent purchased a scanmaster so i am just being safe for now. if i am totallly wron about timing,boost and blah blah please let me know and direct to a place that will explain it all to me.

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

You have the right idea and the best thing to do is to stay VERY safe until you get a scan tool. Get that scan tool, first thing. Then look at what your readings are for iac and tps and all that. set it up as per gnttype.org directions. Then set your boost at 12psi and try it and look at your knock retard. If you get none then move up a little. I think you will see that knock shows up way before you can actually hear it. I think the stock chip is like 26*. It has been my experience and if I remember right, that more timing equals more torque and less timing equals more horsepower.....up to a certain point on both.
Just setup your car with the most boost without knock retard and good O2 readings. I think the difference in a couple degrees of timing is hardly noticable but a few degrees of knock retard you can really feel.
Just find the best chip for you and tune to that chip. Find the most horsepower with that chip.
I tried a thrasher chip and didn't like it as much as my Red's chip. If I would have spent alot of time change my boost and fuel pressure I might have been able to get it right, but the Red's chip just seemed to work well with my car. I would worry less about a couple degrees of timing or psi of performance and just think about making the most outta your current setup. Its all about finding what your car likes and what you are comfortable with.
Read everything you can, try what you want and make your own conclusions.

 

[87GNcospg]

ami correct about the reds 93 having about 20* ?

 

[Dr. Jeckel]

I'm not sure about that one. sorry