Where should the timing be?

I checked in the search before posting. Maybe I wasn't doing it right but I could not find the right one. Anyway....what should my timing be for a 231 OF with an HEI? I borrowed a light from a guy at work and when I checked it it was a good 1.5" past the marks closer to the left front tire. So I turned the distributor and started it again. Nope not good. Turned it the other way and it got a bit better sounding and the mark got closer to the marks. Turned it a bit more and it sounded smoother and the mark was in the marks. Tightened the nut for the distributor and took her for a spin. All I can say is ....WOW! now I have throtle response and power. Any help would be helpfull. I am keeping the time where it is for now until I get some more time to fiddle.

 

Depends on what you're running for vac advance. Really, I shouldn't speak out my arse because I tuned the 225 not 231, but I found that it was best in my case just to tune for total advance to make sure you're not getting detonation, then nudge the idle up for vacuum at the low end. Had to have a mechanic type help me out with one of the fancy SnapOn timing lights. Werks gud. :twisted: YMMV. HTH.

 

Thank you for the info guys. I thought it was around 5* but I wasn't sure. I am about 2* BTDC right now. Runs lot better. I will tweak it a bit more when I get a chance. Thanks again guys. :stout: