65cutty

am wanting to set my timing with a vaccum gage. I was told its a better way. hows this done?

Olds64

There is. Use a timing light.

You hook up the timing light, set your idle to the specified rpm and use the timing light to set your "timing mark" on the harmonic balancer to the specified advance.

Use a vacuum gauge to set your idle mixture screws.

joe_padavano

No, you're not...

380 Racer

Olds64

Supposedly there are old timers that can tune a car by ear or with a small glass of water on the air cleaner. I've never seen it though. Plus, why try to be that cool if you have tools to do it with?

wmachine

It's really not that hard to do by ear, within 3-4 degrees. But that isn't good enough.

Olds64

I agree.

Bluevista

You just cut a hole in the firewall and reach up and time it on the fly, believe it or not I've seen it.
Crude and early version of dial-advance.

Yellowstatue

Buick guys can't do that because their arms are too short!!!

65cutty

not trying to be cool, I can get a precise timed engine if vaccum is at the highest then backed off just a little, and with a cam there timing is just a starting point, air fuel mixes? tried that last nite and it works also went for the highest setting then tighten 1/4 turn, car runs the best it ever has since rebuild, doesnt load up hot and no stumbling. yes the rpm must be set and dist vac blocked.

Olds64

Well if it works for you then that is good. Never heard of setting timing with a vacuum gauge though...