Having owned nothing but old cars and trucks, I've been setting my timing
for years with an advance-able timing light and letting the static or idle
timing take care of itself.
I'm probably getting to the same place as you, but from the other direction.

Jake

On 4/25/06, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>
> I'm back online at last!
>
> Blasted computer has totally frustrated me .... computer crash!! Install
> new mother-board, Crash!!, Re-install all software, Crash!!! Hours and
> hours spent struggling with it all - then I crashed!   Finally
> re-formatted all the drives, re-installed all the software, and that
> worked. At long last I'm back in the ether! What a PITA!! My computer
> has been down for almost a month, and it is a major working tool. Sure
> lost some ground this time around.
>
> Lated Vanagon wrinkle - set the timing on the old WBX. It had a spark
> rattle under load. With the timing light strobe I could tell it was way
> advanced, so I  reset it by the book to 5 degrees. Spark rattle gone,
> but noticeable power loss. So I reset it again by splitting the
> difference between where it was, and the 5 degree book setting. That
> seemed to work. It now runs smooth, no rattle, and good  power.  It is
> probably set about 7-1/2 degrees BTDC, but seems to work best there.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com