<VV> Setting the timing + more

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/1/2010 6:34:30 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
62vair at gmail.com writes:

Stephen,  the point is to remove vacuum from the distributer and cap the 
leak
to the  carb, so it is best to pull the hose from the distributer and  plug
it.

Mark Durham



Stephen - Mark is correct. But the point Harry Yarnell made is  important, 
too. Disconnecting and plugging that hose is the safe method of  setting the 
timing to the correct point, if you have a good timing light. But  after 
you do set the distributor so the firing point is in the right place,  remove 
the hose plug (That golf tee is the easiest method I have found) and,  with 
the engine still idling and the timing light still hooked up and firing,  
hook the hose back to the vacuum advance canister. If the timing moves when 
the  hose is hooked back up at a "warm-engine" idle (chokes off), you have 
carb  balance work to do. With the carbs correctly balanced - and no other 
vacuum  leaks, the car should idle with the vacuum ports (inside the carbs) si
tting  above the throttle plates position. Since it is hard to move the port, 
you need  to get the idle balanced enough, and low enough, so that the 
throttle plate  stays below that port. The shop manual has a pretty good system 
for carb  balancing, and there are several other "aids" to carb balancing, 
such as  the Unisyn. 

 
Seth  Emerson

C's the Day! - Corvair,  Camaro, Corvette

San Jose, CA