I have a 350ci but I do not know what year or anything. I have the timing set at 6 BTDC but it was totally off the measuring scale before I changed it. It did not detonate or anything at that off the scale mark, so should I go back to that spot that is not even on the measureing scale? It is a cruiser and occasional drag strip car.

I have always liked to set the base as high as I could without having hot cranking problems than recurve the mech. and vacuum to fit the combo. Did you check yours with or without the vacuum advance hooked up?

Probably around 12-14º initial will work. I have my driver at 16 plus 10 vacuum advance (26º at idle). Total is 36º. The bracket car has 2º more both initial and total (no VA, though). As Marty said, you need to keep an eye on the total advance. Re-curving will fix any detonation problems. I suggest have the distributor re-curved by someone with a distributor machine. The cost is minimal and it will be right with a lot less trial and error work on your part.

I have checked it with the vacume on and off. Both readins were about the same. My timing tab only goes to 12 degrees btdc so I am not sure how to tell what it would be if I went any higher than that.

Perry

Isn't there a way to use a tape measurer and just mark a certain distance from the origional line? I believe there are three different size dampers so that distance will change for all three. Could someone in the know please tell me what these distances are to put 34degrees on the 0 mark?