I was reading how to adjust time for a NON electric distributor with the timing light deal and by turning distributor. However, it didn't say for the HEI distributors like the one I have on my 84. Do you still do it the same way?

 

To set timing on a CCCS )carbed) thirdgen, there is one change vs an old style vac advance ditributor. Instead of disconnecting the vacuum line you disconnect the 4 wire connector on the wiring harness into the distributor. This will be located on a short length of the 4 wires coming off the distributor, not plugged into it.
It will be a PITA to get it to run with it disconnected, but after a few seconds it should stabilize a little bit. If not you may have to move the timing up some just to get it to idle and then bump it down to where it is supposed to be.