Timing question

[possum70]

I have scraped away all the paint and grime of the balancer and finally found the timing mark... and colored it white. Now with the vacuum advance off, do I time it to 0? or to the 8 BTDC or whatever?
It's a 78 chevy 350 Blazer. There are no stickers in the engine compartment and it has a quadrajet carb. So I cannot find an actual number to what the advance should be. I've read 2, 4 and 8 BTDC. Can someone please help me out here?

Thanks,
possum

 

[Chevy305]

I like to run a lot of timing so I'd say go for 8 BTDC

 

[possum70]

do I check it at 8 with or without the vac advance hooked up?

 

[badmix]

Unplug and cap the Vaccum advance. also unplug and cap the carb port. Hook light up to #1 plug and point it the timing marks. If your standing on your bumper looking down, youll be interested in the timing marks to your LEFT (passenger side of truck), those are the ones your setting it to. I would set it to 6 or 8* and then tighten down the distributor and put your vacuum lines back and take it for a drive. Make some "spirited' Full throttle from a stop run and listen for PINGING, if you do get Pinging, back it down a couple Degrees.


passenger side BTDC (advanced) 10 - 8 - 4 -2 - 0 - 2 - 4 - 8 - 10 drivers side ATDC (retarded)

*if this is wrong someone correct me.

 

[RootBreaker]

Unplug and cap the Vaccum advance. also unplug and cap the carb port. Hook light up to #1 plug and point it the timing marks. If your standing on your bumper looking down, youll be interested in the timing marks to your LEFT (passenger side of truck), those are the ones your setting it to. I would set it to 6 or 8* and then tighten down the distributor and put your vacuum lines back and take it for a drive. Make some "spirited' Full throttle from a stop run and listen for PINGING, if you do get Pinging, back it down a couple Degrees.


passenger side BTDC (advanced) 10 - 8 - 4 -2 - 0 - 2 - 4 - 8 - 10 drivers side ATDC (retarded)

*if this is wrong someone correct me.

thanks for this.. i was setting my timing yesterday.. at least trying too...
i didnt touch my vac advance... just left it off..

i know i am beyond that 10... (thought it was 12 on mine).. about 1/2"!!!! gonna pickup a digital gun today and check...