but at the position the cap sits when its running great...does not even up with the lockdown clips at all. so its just sitting up there. ill find a way to strap it down. so is it fine for it to be this advanced as long as i adjust the carb more? i know it does have to have some advance in it anyway due to me running premium gas in it.

 

You need to set the timing with a timing light so that you know where the timing is really at. Without a timing light you are just guessing about whether it is advanced too much or not.

I am confused by the statement "but at the position the cap sits when its running great...does not even up with the lockdown clips at all". So I ask the following question.

Are you turning the cap on top of the distributor to set the timing? The cap should be tightly clamped to the distributor body so that the cap clamps line up properly and the little tit inside the cap lines up with the notch in the top lip of the distributor body. You then turn the whole distributor to set the timing after you loosen the clamp at the base where it meets the block.

 

Yes you need to install the dizzy cap fully before checking the timing. If you can not get it to run at all with the dizzy correctly installed. Did you install the dizzy 180 degrees off maybe?

 

well, i just installed it according to the position of the previous cap. made sure they identically sat the same. A TIMING LIGHT IS DEFINITELY IN MY FUTURE lol and yes, i was turning it while it was on. didn't know the clips could turn with the cap. mine must just be stuck or caught on something cause it was stiff as a brick. lol i really didn't want to run it without it being latched down. that's why i haven't touched since then. but tomorrow, i shall try to apply a bit of lube around the ring and see how it goes.

 

I have run every engine I ever set the timing on with the distributer clamp loose. Don't be afraid of that. Just be sure to tighten it when you are done. Just tighten it like a girl. There is no reason to muscle it.

 

problem solved. timing was off. it was already off when i bought it (just found that out). was redard by 1 distributor space. it starts without effort and no longer blows out soot. idles fantastic. even has some power now. feels great. and all this with the distributor cap locked in place. thanks guys for all your help.

 

Congrats on getting it running again! Happy truck=Happy man