30 deg. btdc?

[popsthebuilder]

So I've had my 73 c20 for a couple of weeks now and I've known something was off with the timing. Anyway long story short , I checked it today. Plugged distr. vac. did not adjust throttle. Found timing mark. Hooked up timing light that has knob to set the amount of advance you want to 0...no mark. Slowly turned knob... timing mark was at 0 on plate...30 on light. Am I doing a whole lot wrong, or is there a whole lot wrong with my engine? 

[VileZambonie]

Don't worry about it. Check the orientation of timing mark and inspect the balancer. After you tune it up play around with it. Baseline your readings, then try advancing it and see how much you can tweak it. Did you see if unhooking and reconnecting the vacuum hose makes a significant difference? What's it at at say 3,000RPM?

[popsthebuilder]

Didn't try re-hooking the vacuum. I'll try it tomorrow when there's more light. I have to get a tach. still.  Thanks.

[cluke78]

howis the truck running like the timing was?

[popsthebuilder]

I haven't attempted to adjust it yet. It runs ok i guess kind of under powered.