65cutty

MY books are gone and am going to set my timing am thinking its 15 but cant remember, 350 w/auto trans, none hei.....jim

Oldsguy

Disconnect the vacuum advance and plug the hose so you don't have a leak. Then set the timing at about 10 degrees advance. That should get you started. 15 degrees is too much advance but you may be able to go as high as 12 degrees.

65cutty

I believe you are right, but do you know what the book calls for to put it at the factory spec? thanks ...jim

svnt442

1975 is HEI. Stock initial timing is 20° @ 1100 RPM.

65cutty

thanks randy, am thinking that when i take the distribuator vaccum line off the carb base Iam to plug the orfice on the carb ? and my 350 has points style dist with pertronix point eleminator would the timing still be 20 degrees at 1100 rpms?...jim

svnt442

In that case you want to use the points settings. Yes cap the vacuum port.

Start with a base of 10° and go from there. See what the engine likes for total timing.
Do you know how many degrees of mechanical advance the distributor has built in? If not can you get your hands on a dial back timing light?

65cutty

I'll try the 10 degrees, and no dont have that style of timing lite and dont know of anyone who does am the last of the old group of guys that has kept there cars...jim am going to time it tonite and after getting it warmed up and shut off am going to look down the primaries and see if the carb is leaking, though right after shutting it off and try to restart it starts fine but wait about 3 mins no go,will crank for a long time then start though its loaded up, hum

65cutty

tonite I removed the air cleaner and ckd down the carb with a lite, dry, set the choke and watched the jets spray and started the engine started right up, let it run for 35 mins and shut it off ckd down the carb again with a lite no dripping, waited about 3 min and turned over very good but started after about 1 1/2 mins dont give it gas or theres going to be a fire, what now?...jim