Setting the timing on a 69 318

fuzzman said
so all i'm asking is do i try setting it at 10 degrees above TDC As a starting point?

Based on what you've written, No. But really it depends on the curve in the distributor.

Look at the timing graph I posted above. Notice the CAP distributor is set at 5* After, while the other at 5* BTC. Yet they end up at pretty much the same place by 1400 rpm. Now lets say you've got the original CAP distributor; setting the initial timing at 5*BTD at 550 rpm is 10* more than spec. This will will add 10* everywhere and it will ping under load.

One other thing to experiment with that is easy. Disconnect the vac advance hose at the distributor and stick a golf tee in the open hose. Then go for a test drive and see if the part throttle ping as gone away.

fuzzman said
One question i have i can move the distributor and see if the temp goes down right?

Yes. Late timing will result in more heat into the engine and exhaust. This is why the emissions control efforts are tricky.
Late 60s the focus was on HC & NOx emissions at idle, and they addressed this with leaner idle mix (14.2 AFR) and later timing - the opposite of what is best for efficiency. This makes the engine run hotter at idle than it did before. Idle stop solenoids addressed dieseling (engine run-on) and so forth.

fuzzman said
Like i said in one of my earlier posts the stock gauge is reading high like on the first hash mark past the middle who knows if it is reading true and, I'm running a 190 thermos stat

I beleive 190 is correct. Is the gage indicating hotter than center all the time or just at idle? At idle, a fan shroud will help the fan work pull more air through the radiator.