Timing after tune-up for 82 FI spider

[bran100]

I just changed plugs, magnetic pickup, wires, crankcase oil and transmission oil. Overall, its been a good week.

When setting the timing, it runs good at 10 degrees BTDC, but it seems to run better if I get in the 20 degree range, but that just seems too much to me. I settled in at around 12-15 degrees.

I popped off the vacuum hose to the distributor when I set the timing and also noticed there is very little vacuum when putting my thumb over the end of the hose. I put a vacuum gauge on it, and it didn't budge the needle. It's a new gauge, so there's a remote possibility the gauge doesn't work, but I don't think that's the case. Revving the engine also didn't give any more pull.

Are these issues related? It was getting late so I didn't get to trace that vacuum hose, but I assume it leads to the intake? Is there a valve there that could be 'done'?

By the way, this is what the magnetic pickup looks like after 144k miles...
http://picasaweb.google.com/bhartness/F ... 2433413810

thanks in advance,
Brandon

[So Cal Mark]

the vacuum advance hose should be connected to ported vacuum, so there won't be any vacuum at idle. There should be vacuum when the engine is revved though. While advancing the timing at idle up to 15-20 may make the engine sound better, you may end up with detonation on hard acceleration or at the top end. If your timing light has the capability to check advance, check the total advance you're getting at about 3500 rpm

[bran100]

Thanks Mark, my Craftsman Timing Light doesn't have that capability. Any thing else I should check, or should I just set it at 10 degrees and be done with it? Maybe bring it into the shop to check the advance timing?

If there is no vacuum at higher RPM, where do I go from there? It's midnight, so I haven't been able to check; just wondering.

Brandon