350 with Edelbrock heads,cam,intake, and carb. (Performer series)

yes...   but just adjusting initial advance high as you can without pinging isnt enough to get the most out of it

Got it, Thank you...Didn't realize this subject was so greatly debated and explored here. I'll try the vacume method and then verify and report the timing light results.

gramps ???

No No No, I thought you said from the other related thread that you learned this way of tuning from your Gramps. I appericiate the advise and tried it out. Got H U G E Power increase over setting timing by the light. Took her out for a test ride and Wowser Go Go Gadget it was fast, But then (BUTT) It was a little weary of wanting to start, so I backed her off just enough to make it "Startable" and it runs fine. Later I found a slight stumbly miss which was corrected by resetting the Spals programable to allow a little more heat on the heads. Everything is well now, although I believe a Accel Super Coil is in the near future to ignite the new plat plugs.

Got yer money's worth already, eh, JB?

Glad ya got it runnin better. I've used "Gramp's" method too, and it absolutely werks, every time. I have to agree with Ben...timing lights are only good for seeing where it is once you get it right!!

No Question about getting my moneys worth Joel, Best ten bones I have ever spent.

OK, Her I go again. Can't leave well enough alone and all. LOL

I have advanced the Mallory HEI to Max vacume at idle (1000 RPM)= 16 PSI and took her out for a ride. Ran FANTASTIC,
 Would not start at all though, so I backed off the timing to 13 PSI at idle until I could fire her up. Readjusted the carb and all was well until.....

 How can I get the full power and the ability to turn the engine over too? I set the timing with a gauge with the vac advance blocked off. Can I alter the vacume advance to kick in around 2500-300 RPM? or am I missing something. Even thought maybe the starter was week (New Starter though) New Battery....Arrrrgggg. I really want it to run like it did at 16 PSI (set at idle) No Pings, No Miss, just F A S T .....Smokin Fast.... At 13 PSI It is not the same......

Thank you for your patience here. I really did look for the other thread and seem to not be able to find it.

Anyone? Ideas?
JB

Sounds like you're gonna have to do some changes to the mechanical advance, most likely a spring change. This will get you the full advance that you need to run "fantastic"(is that a scientific term?), and still be able to start when hot. The problem's gonna be determining what spring/weight set-up is gonna be the best all around.
The springs/weights on the advance mechanism work more from rpm changes; vac. advance is more closely related to engine load.
Try this...stay with me now...
Disconnect the vac. from the dist. Then adjust the timing until the car runs well, reguardless of hard starting. Then, check the timing with a light, and make note of that setting.
Now, reconnect the vac. to the dist., and set the timing(with the light) to the same setting you got from the above step. Drive again and see how it werks out. This should give you the same results as with the vac. unhooked, but it should start ok. If it doesn't run as well this way, I would think a spring change would be needed.

You also need to verify the vac. advance can will hold vac., and will move the advance plate thru it's full range, with a vac. pump. Not all advance cans will hold vac. for a long time...some are "vented", for lack of a better werd. It should still be able to move the plate, and hold it for several seconds before slowly bleeding off.

Thanks Joel, I'll give it a shot after work today.