I have most of the bugs worked out and major items like brakes ready to go on my 66 Chevy truck, but want to make sure I have all right with the engine before the maiden voyage.
The engine is a rebuilt 250 with a 1 barrel Rochester carb. I have tried setting the timing by the book with not much success. I'm assuming the marks on the tab are BTDC on the side farthest from the pavement and those closer to the ground are after.
There is no way I can get the timing to any less than 8 degrees before TDC without killing the motor. The truck seems to start best with the timing even more before TDc than that. When I get the thing where it starts really well, I get backfiring thru the carb when I hold the throttle open, but it runs ok when idling.
If I get the timing where I have the most vacuum...(around 18)the thing is really hard to start, but runs smoothe.
I have a HEI installed. Will that make some difference in the timing?
I have to wonder about the dist. being 180 out, but I didn't think it would run if that was the case.
