ot timing question
 

I finally think i got my firebird running properly but while i had the scanner on i notice it said my timing advance was somewhere in the 20s. Is this normal for the scanner to say while its running or is my timing WAY off? I think it is being it knocks every now and then.

you probably ought to look in the manual. my guess is that the advance shouldn't be much over 15 degrees. also, i do believe that over-advancing will cause knocking/detonation.

can timing be set using the scanner though or do i need to find a timing tight?

you said this is a firebird? what year, engine, etc.?

91 3.1 mpfi

don't know about the newer american iron. does it have a distributor (yeah, i know nothing about this thing)? have you looked at a manual.