Timing Dilemna

[DBguy]

Hey guys,

Finished the Weber conversion and overall the car's been running well, but I'm not too sure what to do about timing. I don't have a timing light but I borrowed my neighbors to see where it was at, if I remember correctly it started out at factory specs 14or15 degrees btdc...at that timing the car would start and run fine but there was quite a bit of hesitation at 3k and 4.5k.

I advanced the timing t'ill the hesitation smoothed out, pulls hard and smooth all the way through. Now I'm finding it harder to start from cold, it will start because I have a performance starter in it but it still has a hard time cranking the engine - it will start though. When I retard the timing (back to factory..ish) it will crank just fine...

I didn't notice any pinging or knocking when I advanced the timing, what are your guys' thoughts? I'm stumped...

[90 GP]

Did you plug vac advance when setting initial timing? Does vac advance have vac running to it? Did you check centrifugal advance ? Check it by removing distrib cap and checking to see if rotor snaps back when you turn it slightly by hand. If not the centrifugal weights/springs are bound up and need lubed.

[DBguy]

I didn't set the initial timing I just checked it... The distributor does have vacuum running to it and the advance is working (I removed the cap and sucked on the lines, it advances then comes back), I will double check to make sure they are moving freely but it seemed fine last time I checked...