[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Ok, you can't set initial and total without changing the bushing in the distributor, period. Just need to point that out. When I checked the timing last it was at 1000 rpm, I blipped the throttle a little to make sure the timing wasn't varying, so was pretty confident initial was 12.

What's initial at now?

You say the engine wasn't happy at 12 initial? What were the symptoms that made that determination? I'm curious.

.

I'm with ya Highway.

Now that I know the distributor has the black bushing, (key information) that is the biggest bushing that MSD supplies. To get 34 total all in you are likely going to end up with at least 16 initial.

More than likely you'll have to swap the bushing for one of the smaller ones so you can keep the initial lower and still have your 34 total. If it didn't like 12 degrees then some other adjustments and tuning might need to be done. Idling at 1,000 doesn't sound low at all for an engine with that size camshaft. In gear if it dropped to 800-850 I'd say you're doing pretty good. Then dial in the vacuum for about 10-12 degrees for a little better idle quality (manifold) and you'll have to decide whether you want ported or manifold vacuum

Process of elimination.

Problem I see is there are so many guys with there hands on this thing, once something is set, it's changed again by someone else and so on and so forth. I don't know how you guys are going to get anywhere with that.