Moved from "FUEL" forum

Are you allowed on here? LOL Just kidding thank you very much for the info.
So here are my thoughts. I agree I probably do have to much advance. Yes its def. PING. Im sure I have an exaust leak as well but the Ping as you know has its own sound.
I am thinking that my process should be this. Correct me if I am wrong.

1. Adjust timing
2. Adjust the carb using a tach, and also a vacuum gauge to attain the highest vacuum setting I can get.

Here are the problems with this that I see I will have.

1. Where to adjust the timing too? I can get in the "ball park" but what signs are going to be most noticable to let me know I have hit the ideal setting.

2. OK say I get the timing where I think it should be, now I move to adjusting the carb mixture screws with a vacuum guage and a tach, but as I adjust them they have in-turn made my RPMs raise or lower and then the TIMING is looking different again with the timing light.

3. Say I get the timing and the mixture screws adjusted, so that the timing looks good and the highest vacuum is attained and NOW with those set, it is idleing too high or too low? Once again if I adjust the idle srew it will make the timing look different with a timing light.

I know this is exactly what defines the "ART" of tuning, so maybe Im asking a bit much to be explained to me.
I am sure that I have some misconceptions as far as some of this process is concerned please feel free to set me straigt.
Thx guys