Max,

Being in Germany you may have had occasion to set the timing on an old VW Beetle using a test light or a voltmeter. You can static time the Chevy the same way. Get number one cylinder (front driver side) on top dead center, or better yet about 4 degrees advanced. Make sure it is the compression stroke. You can do this if the valve covers are off by seeing that both valves are closed; or if the valve cover is on, pull #1 plug and put your finger over the hole and turn the motor over and you should feel pressure as the piston comes up. If the timing mark comes up and you don't feel pressure, go around one more time. Now trace the #1 plug wire back to the distributer cap and make sure the rotor is pointing to the #1 wire. Now hook your volt meter or test light to the negative post of the coil. Turn on your ignition, but don't try and start it. If your test light comes on, you are right on the timing, if not slowly rotate your distributor counter clockwise until the light comes on. If the ligtht was on, turn the distributor clockwise until it goes out, then back counter clockwise till it comes on. Just to be sure pull the cap and make sure the rotor is still pointing at the right wire. That should get you timed close enough to start.

Next question is how did you adjust your rocker arms? Hopefully you did each one just snug, rotating the engine so each pushrod was in it's lowest position before adjusting.

I would set the idle mixture screws about 1.5 turns out to start with, then adjust for best rpm from there. Make sure your choke is in the closed position for initial start up, then opens at the motor warms up.

For running timing I suggest 4-10 degrees advanced finding the best range with out pinging.

Hope this helps

Pat