My 1965 Skylark 300/355, with a four barrel stopped running until I replaced the points (that saga is in another thread). When I got it running I had to adjust the dwell to 30 degrees and the timing that was around 12 degrees. I reset the timing to 2.5 degrees and it idles fine, but it has lost its amazing low speed response with I put the pedal to the metal. It doesn't look like the mechanical advance weights have been changed, but I am wondering if there is some reason it should have the timing set closer to 12 degrees? Or, would it hurt if I set it at 12 degrees? I like that throttle response so I would like to get it back.
2.5 degrees advance is way too little advance. I don't care what the spec was for the car originally. You should have at least 10 or 12 degrees advance. If you have a dial back timing light I would set the maximum mechanical advance to 32 or 34 then see what you have at idle for initial timing. Proper performance tuning on timing will have reduced mechanical advance (18 degrees or so) and more initial advance. Larry has a good post on power timing that would help you. The car would be very sluggish in the low end with only 2.5 degrees advance. If you can advance it back to 12 and if there is no pinging under acceleration then it should be fine. Greg
