Plugging Timed vacuum advance hose

stumblinhorse said
Appreciate helping me understand or correcting me on what I am doing wrong. I have an edelbrock performer 600 on my la 318. I am using the timed vacuum port on the carb to connect to my distributor. Doing the timing says to pull the hose from the distributor and plug it. There is no vacuum in that line at idle. I don't think there is supposed to be vacuum in that line at idle? Why should I plug that line? I am sure I am missing something or doing something wrong.

Please educate me. I don't have a PCV hooked up yet, waiting on the grommet. If that matters.

To the other parts of your question. Yes. It's generally best to get the PCV valve in place before tuning the carb. The PCV valve will be a restricted, but significant, air source at idle.
The valve doesn't need to be sealed well to the valve cover if you really want to get going on this without waiting for the grommet. But it does need to be connected well to the carb base.

How you go about the timing will depend on the engine. Knowing what year, the rest of the setup, and your goals, then its possible to make some suggestions or point you in a direction.