My car's been overheating and I have a feeling that it is atleast to some degree due to bad timing, I don't have a timing light, but If I wanted to just turn it a few degrees in a direction to see if it helps, which way should I go? Is there a decent way to time our cars without a light?

Thanks.

 

a vacuum guage will get you really close

otherwise get a light

both are inexpensive

borrow one from a shop real quick if you have to

hell ive had timing lights given to me for free before

good luck

 

I happen to have a vacuum gauge. how can that help? highest vacuum while turning the distributor?

also, if I go out and buy a timing light, how can I make sure my timing tab is accurate? I had never thought about the possibility that it may not be until the last few days reading post after post on these boards. When I had my engine built up to a 383 I put a new harmonic balancer which I'm not sure of the brand, and a new timing tab which I'm pretty sure was Mr.Gasket, got it from congress auto parts.

also, last time I had a timing light on the car I remember the timing was jumping around an awful lot, I'm not sure if the guy doing it had the distributor disconnected or what, but if anyone's seen this before and knows why it happens I'd like to know what to do to fix it.