henry, this vac. thing shouldn't keep going around and around. this thread spilled over from a thread from yesterday in which the guy wanted to know what vac. line to use. it was based on a old q-jet, carb, 1985 motor and dist. and what he was told is the setting he needs. [i]I've all ways been talking stock. not a fast-burn 385. [/] if i had a fast-burn 385 i probably would do something dif. but that was not the ?
The fast-burn 385 is just another Chevy small block engine. There's no reason why a HEI distributor in this engine would perform any differently than a in stock one. Also, the article I posted referred to Chevy engines in general, stock engines included.

Your approach is not wrong, and neither is mine. If you use manifold vacuum, you get full advance at idle. Not necessarily a bad thing. It increases idle speed a little, but you can adjust it back.

Ported vacuum also works, it's Chevy's general recommendation, and often gives better response in the mid-range rpms.

Neither method makes a whit of difference at WOT.

I gave Brian the info that has worked best for me. You gave him what works best for you. My advice is that he try both and see what works better.