Idle is 10 BTDC

Approx. 3000 rpm I get 35 degrees advance.

2 hours ago, rcb280z said:

Idle is 10 BTDC

Approx. 3000 rpm I get 35 degrees advance.

I never set ignition timing when the car was outside of idle.  Wouldn't getting timing to run at 35 degrees require twisting the distributor to quite a bit?  After twisting it, wouldn't idle also be out of whack?

Thats what your vacuum canister does. It advances timing when needed. Mine maxes out at, approx., 35 degrees around 3000 rpms. Hook up a timing light and see what happens when you open the throttle from the idle position. You should see the timing mark start to advance. And that is assuming you have a functioning vacuum advance canister and / or advance plate. 

The only adjustment you'll make is your idle timing. Mine runs fine at 10 BTDC. 

 

Edited July 2, 20195 yr by rcb280z
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Edited July 2, 20195 yr by rcb280z

right, my vacuum advance is dead.  I was wondering how/what I should set the car to to compensate for a lack of advance, does that make sense?

I'm no timing expert, but I don't think there's really any way to really "compensate" with any static source for not having vacuum advance on the distributor.

You could maybe squeak your 10 degree base static timing up a degree or two, but there's just no true "substitute" for the vacuum advance at light cruise.