or can it be set at idle?

 

easy way to find out is hook up a timing light to the number 1 spark plug wire,,, start the engine..if you don't see your timing anywhere near the the timing tab..then hook up to spark plug wire 6 and see if it shows up..if it does it's computer controlled.. in which case you need to locate the bypass wire and disconnect it before you set your base timing..or i guess you could always leave the timing light hooked up to the number 6 wire and set the timing that way

 

Doesn't work.
As soon as you move the dist the computer will adjust the timing to compensate.Only way to set timing on CC cars is to disconnect the ESC connector

 

you have to disconnent the electronic timing connector then you can manually set the timing at idle, it is then computer adjusted after you reconnect the connector

 

YES , you need to disconnect the dist and set the initial timing from there .I don't know how to do it on an 89 but on my 84 I just unplug the 4 wire plug on the dist.

 

oops i posted the wrong word lol " set the timing that way" shoulda been "check the timing that way"
I've noticed that when i disconnect the bypass wire to set the base timing,,and then reconnect it,,reset the ecm code,,and then connect the timing light to No. 6 plug wire that the timing will be right at whatever is set in the spark table for that RPM and map reading... that's what i meant by the statement above..sorry for the word typo :-)