im just wondering about the timing with centrifical and vacuum advance... now my 350 has a non cc hei dist. and i have the mr. gasket advance curve kit..... i have the medium springs because the light ones flutter my idle. but with my initial timing set at 20 degree when i snap the throttle open it only will get to 30-32.. which is only 10-12 degrees... i know not to go over 35 or so total but shouldnt i be able to get more out of it and drop my initial down a bit?....second question.. my vacuum advance is an adjustable one from crane or somewhere and i have it hooked to ported vacuum... now how much should that open? should i never ever go over 35 degrees total advance or is it ok for the vacuum to pull it higher lets say 40's to get me goin quicker? it feels like it gets a little flat at high revs

 

Snapping the throttle doesn't accomplish anything. Hold the engine steady at about 3000 RPM with the vacuum advance disconnected and set the timing to about 34 degrees. Connecting the vacuum will add more advance on top of that, but it doesn't matter since it'll all disappear at WOT anyway.

 

im not snapping it that fast, gradually giving it throttle till 3000 sorry... im seeing the vacuum pull it till it stops, then it does fall back when i hold it at that high rev. but how high should the vacuum advance pull? keep opening till i ping?.... now vacuum is set to only hit 35 ish ever. and shouldnt i have more centrifical spread than just 12 degrees? is that mr. gasket kit crap?distributor crap? im saying that my initial is 20 degrees then my centrifical opens to about only 32-33 total and my vacuum is only opening it 15 degrees to hit 33 ish.. shouldnt my motor be set at like 10 initial? how would i hit 34 if i can only get 12 degrees of spread? id be at 24?

 

Forget about the vacuum advance when you're setting the base timing. Unplug it and cap the line.

Run the engine up to 3000 RPM, turn the distributor until you get 34 degrees. Leave the vacuum unplugged, take the car out and do some WOT runs. If you don't get any pinging, you can try advancing a couple more degrees and/or using lighter springs.

When you're finished playing with all that, plug the vacuum advance back in. If you get pinging under part throttle acceleration, reduce the amount or slow the rate of vacuum advance.