timing with a vacumm gauge??

[chevyhouse]

i was told that i could set timing with my vacumm gauge but i don't remember how to do it. anybody do this, is it a good method or just a way to get close til i can get a light?

[bigjimzlll]

its a good way to check your harmonic balancer to make sure the ring hasnt shifted...with the vacuum advance plugged..or hooked into the gauge..at idle adjust timing until you have max vacuum reading...then adjust carb until you get max vac and then lean a 1/4 turn...then check timing again

[Zkast]

Until you get a light you can do what I call a "Power" time. Either powerbrake (if you dont have much HP) until you get just a bit of pinging or take it on the highway at around 45-55mph to lug the engine down a bit and adjust till you get just a bit of pinging. Just a couple of clatters is all you want... not a constant pinging.

From there you will be fairly close. Make sure you check with a light though, you definatly dont want to run too much timing... bad things will happen lol.

I wouldnt use a vacuum gauge to adjust your timing, adjust your carb? yes... timing no!

[Fast68Chevy]

if it runs good and smooth and doesnt ping under load and doesnt bog down on startup tne id say timing is good, vac guage is a great lil thing to check up on engine and to set engine at setting where its got the best vac at aroung 18-22 in of merc(hg)

i always set mine by intake vac, never hahve pinging or bogging on cranking time

good luck

[roger0080]

That's how I've timed the engine on my 72's is by taking it down the highway.

Set the timing.
Take it on the highway at 50-55 mph.
Step on it/floor it/put a load on it.
Keep advancing the timing until it pings.
Then when hit the point where the timing starts to ping, back off the timing a bit until it doesn't ping.

I find that when you time it "by the book", gas milage and performance is not the best. The best of performance and mpg is when I do it as desribed above.

-Roger