(for automatic transmission) activate emergency brake , engine at operating temp , transmission in second gear,

acellerate car to 3500 rpm with foot on brake , slowly turn the distributor in the advanced direction untill the engine starts to ping,
then retard the timeing a little, lock the distributor.

turn the engine off and try to restart engine
if it starts fine leave it there,
if it labours when you try to start it , retard the timeing a little more (untill it starts with out labouring.

Yes this takes 2 people!!!!!!! LOL!