Thread: 30 degrees of advance at idle?

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OK, one more generic question. Let's say the timing needs to be advanced (in any engine tuning scenario, not just this one).....

How do you decided WHICH aspect of timing to change? How do you know when to change the centrifugal weights, vs vacuum advance (adjustable) vs. static? I understand what each does, I am having a hard time determining which would need changing under different scenarios.

Are the dist weights in the correct orientation in the pic below (not upside down center part)? Not my pic, borrowed.

well to determine which timing needs to be changed would depend on what rpm the engine is at when you're seeing a problem.... if its at idle and you have vac disconnected then its obviously static, if it doesn't seem to be right at say 1500-2600 then its probably vac, and above that its probably mechanical.... pretty simple eh?

Edit:

SUCCESS!! (mostly):

I followed Denny's instructions, and using the article I first linked to, I finally set it up like this:
14 degrees static +
22 degrees centrifugal (starting 800, coming all in by 2800) +
16 degrees vacuum

I still have work to do, but I am 90% there. I am pretty sure my timing marks are off though. With the above setup, it still bogs REAL bad at full throttle acceleration. I advanced static more and more until my marks show 48 degrees at idle (600-700). Only at that setting I am really starting to get some power out of it, and never had any pinging anywhere. Full throttle power still seems off, so now I have to figure where REAL TDC is, and get some timing tape.

I still want to be sure, are the timing weights and pivot shown in the pic correct?