Checking Timing 8-98 & Manual Advance

[Curt Curtiss]

While tracking down a potential heating issue I got to thinking about the ignition timing. I have two questions:

 

- Manual Advance - How does this work and when do I use it? I suspect it is for starting but I have not needed to use it to start the car. When the car is running and I pull it out the engine slows down a bit, is that advancing or retarding the ignition when I pull it out?

 

- Ignition Timing Adjustment - How do you set the timing on these cars, is there a way to do it with a timing light and if so where and how to I read timing. I have looked in all of the books I have bought so far and it is not clear.

 

This is the set up I have, someone has installed a Chrysler distributor with electronic ignition in this car so that is the starting point. It also has vacuum advance and I noticed it appears to be taking full manifold vacuum.