<VV> Setting the timing

[kenpepke at juno.com]

The source of the vacuum is the carburetor end so it is easiest to remove the vacuum line from the distributor end and plug the hose with piece of dowel.  Plugging the hose from the carburetor end would not work.  

But there is a more accurate method to set engine timing.  First, there are a few mechanical items to consider.  The distributor must not have loose bearings and the advance plate inside the distributor must be in good condition.  If the engine has a great deal of mileage or if it has a high volume oil pump one would be wise to check the condition of the distributor drive gear.  Once those items are verified it is time to set the dwell / point gap.  Remove the secondary / high voltage wire from the distributor cap end and attach it to a good ground.  Now turn the crank shaft to put the timing mark at the timing degree you have chosen.  This can be done by measuring from the Top Dead Center '0' mark if the scale on the engine is not long enough.  [It is NOT necessary to determine which cylinder is set to fire]  Unfasten one of the coil primary wires and insert a test light.  Slightly loosen the distributor locking screw so it is possible to rotate the distributor housing back and forth with a little effort.  Now switch the ignition switch to the 'on' position.  DO NOT crank the engine at this time.  

To set the timing rotate the distributor back and forth. This will turn the test light on and off.  Make the amount of turning in smaller and smaller arcs until you get to the point when the light just turns off.  Now tighten the distributor locking screw.  The mechanical part of the timing is now set exactly to your desired degree.  There is no need to worry about influence from either the advance weight mechanism nor from the vacuum mechanism.  Take the test light out of the circuit and replace the secondary wire.  Done!

This takes a lot less time to do than it did to read about it!   
Ken P.

******************
Stephen Upham <contactsmu at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Quick question that is not obvious in the instructions in the '65  
manual.  Do you remove the vacuum advance hose from the right carb and  
plug the hose there or from the vacuum advance on the distributor and  
plug that end of the hose?

Stephen U

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