I am getting really close to running good. Today i screwed the idle screw on the drivers side in a few turns and started and ran the truck until it warmed up. I can put it in gear and it won't stall but idles really low. When i checked the timing it looked like it was at about 20-25 BTDC. I think it is supposed to be 8 or 12 BTDC. I dont want to screw up anything i have going so how would i fix the timing while keeping it idleing the same? Which screws on the carb would i adjust if the idle slows when i turn the distributor to get closer to the mark? I want to thank everyone again for helping me so much, someday i will be able to drive it.

 

Unplug the vacuum advance on the distributor and recheck the timing.

 

i did have it unhooked. I put a cap on the distributor cap where th hose was and a bolt in the hose. Is that far off on the timing?

 

Everything seems to run pretty good but the timing is still off by 14 degrees or so. My manual says 8 BTDC but it is set at 22-24 BTDC. I have the vaccum hose plugged and the pipe coming from the carb. I have none of the factory emmisions on it. Is it ok to run at this timing or should i adjust the timing and idle to un closer to 8 BTDC?

 

Could be a number of things. Balancer could have slipped, it's in two pieces with rubber in between. Without knowing any history on the engine it may have been swapped at some time, all timing pointers are not in the same spot and balancers are marked differently. If it's running correctly, not spark knocking, over heating etc, I don't get too hung up on numbers. Not going to insult your intelligence by asking if you're timing off the #1 plug wire, You seem to have a good idea what you're doing.

 

No problem, yes i am running off #1. I am not too sure if they had changed cams or anything else. It seems to run good for now with no knocks or backfires yet. I may try to adjust timing and idle and if it goes bad i will just move it back. I just want to make sure i am not going to mess something up if i leave it where it is. Would it make a difference if the distributor has skipped a few teeth? Should i get the #1 piston up and double check the rotor position with regards to the #1 cap position?

 

The engine does not care what is numbered on the cap, just correct firing order. If you are comfortable pulling and restabbing distributor so everything matches up, go for it. If you do experience spark knock(pre-detenation)under load, back the timing off a bit.

 

akmikek is awesome. Thanks for these replies. Just helped me out a lot. I'm new to this forum and really appreciating all this amazing help people give.