what is the most efective and easy way to check for a vaccum leak? i post here because i am trying to figure out why my car has started "ringing when accelerating. i kind of suspect the vaccum advance mechanism not working properly.

Several ways to check for a vacuum leak:

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2003/VacuumLeaks.htm

John 8)

That's a great site, John. Thanks! It's in my favorites now.

All of that info about vacuum guage readings is OK as long as the engine is fairly stock but install a long duration/high overlap performance camshaft and the vacuum readings will change considerably.

excellent site. today my hei was overhauled with the proform 66945 kit from summit. was all rusty and sticking,probably not advancing at all. the timing was set a 10* btdc. is this timing accurate? the mechanic said that now it is advancing awesomely, and that all is good. even the shaft was sticking when turning it by hand. it is running very smoth, and has stopped getting "hard to start" when hot.we used the silver springs as adviced for street .it is running very smoth now. idling a lot smother.

is 10*btdc a good timing?. its a 350 4bbl, over .30

even do elka is running a lot smoother now, i could say it is a little sluggish. to me it is idling too low, you can hardly feel it. no shakes hesitation ringing or nothing like that, but i dont know if it is me, but something is lacking. what is the ideal timing for a 350 .30 over, 68 corvette cam, holley street dominator manifold, with a holley 1850 600 cfm?

I've seen several numbers for timing all over the internet but here I see 12 to 14 degrees BTDC most and I think that is the stock timing specs.. I've seen as mush as 38 on 30 over but there was a cam involved in that scenario.

You could increment by a couple of degrees at a time and driving it listening for detonation but I far to conservative to do that. Watch for firing back through the carburetor on reving. It too advanced if that is happening.

Late timing was making my Elky feel old and worn out. I've eliminated the worn out part by setting the timing properly for my engine.

thanks, i got the feeling is a matter of trial and error. well, it has to be done.tks again.

Much more than 14 initial timing will make it hard to start. You want a total initial and mechanical total advance of about 38 degrees and all in by 2600-2800rpms.

8) Mrapii is right on the money with the timing. Thats where mine is and the Elky has lots of pull off the line. I liked kicking the mustangs from the stop light! :P

PaPa John

all this got me excited. :) .cant wait to have it all fine tuned.