timing light?

[turbo_tercel]

Hello, I just got two new to me but not new tercels, lol. Anyways I wanted to check the timing because the engines didn’t run right and there supposed to be good engines. They don’t smoke or anything...so what’s the timing degrees supposed to be on the 3E-E carb engine off an 88'. To be more exact, it’s a 5 spd, 2dr, coupe'.

[Donald]

With vacuum advance hose disconnected --- 3 degrees BTDC
With vacuum advance hose connected -----12-18 degrees BTDC.