Rough idle on factory initial timing

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tanyourhide

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meridian, id
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jesse
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1974
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C10 pickup custom
Engine Size
250 inline 6
Have a 74 c10 with a 250 inline 6. Rochester monojet. It idles so rough it stalls when placed into gear (it didnt used to be so bad).
Replaced points cap rotor condenser plugs and wires. When timed to factory setting of 8 before, it runs worse and will barely run. I have to turn the distributor a 1/4 turn clockwise( forgive my ignorance. Not sure if that is advancing or retarding it).

In the distributor the plate to which the points mount to is loose and wiggles, so the points are not tight against the cam lobes. I think this is my next approach. Any thoughts
 

gpmorgan

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Pertronix makes a plate with a magnetic pickup mounted to it that makes an electronic ign out of it. I use to change them out in old forklifts when there was dist. problems. Probably find one on their site.
 

74 Shortbed

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Put an HEI in it and be done with it..
 

tanyourhide

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250 inline 6
Thanks for advice. Found massive vacuum leak at base if the carb in the back. It just wasnt tightened down all the way.
 

gpmorgan

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Thanks for advice. Found massive vacuum leak at base if the carb in the back. It just wasnt tightened down all the way.
Well that was an easy fix. Keep on trucking.
 

CorvairGeek

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Just noticed you are in the Treasure Valley too!
Incidentally, old Chevy 6 (62-74) distributors are lousy, Corvair's and Vega's had the same breaker plate set up that gets sloppy. You will see the dwell going all over the place (with changing RPM) which changes the timing as they wear. The vacuum advance pulling in above an idle will aggravate it. The drive-ability issues get annoying.
I never understood how Chevy and GM had such a fine V8 distributor and let these go into production in '62.
 

tanyourhide

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meridian, id
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jesse
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1974
Truck Model
C10 pickup custom
Engine Size
250 inline 6
Nice see idaho represented
 

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