what should i have my timing set to on my 402?  i run 89 octane and live in chilly Ohio, 650 cfm.  

What year is it and also what year or type distributor is in it too. The reason for later is that older ones had more aggressive vacuum and mechanical advance in them than newer one. A rat likes about 40 to 42 degree of total advance WOT around 4000 RPM and proper octane fuel but you have to factor in built in mechanical advance into best baseline setting.  

the motor is a 72 chevelle, not sure about the distributor. looks pretty old, all i know is that i had to use plug wires from mid 70's big block truck (orginial 72 chevelle or pickup wires would not work right on cap, needed the 90degree caps) hope this helps...i will look closer today  

Is this a automatic or manual and stock cam too? Also, I live in Ohio too and while it is chiller here now it can get wicked with heat for several months in summer.  

the transmission is the 400 auto, sounds like stock cam..i don't drive it a whole lot in the summer due to the heat, mostly in fall and winter for hunting, cutting wood, and fun in snow.  

i'm also having trouble with the idling when it is in gear..in park it idles around 800rpms (which i know is high) but when put into gear it tends to run about 400 rpms, any thoughts?  

Unlike fuel injection, there is no idle correction on those engines so it will idle slower in gear. from 800 to 400 is a pretty big drop though. Try disconnecting vacuum advance and setting idle timing as about 8 BTDC. After you do that, set carb idle mixture screw for best idle mixture. (usually turn each one in slowly until there is a noticeable RPM drop then back out a half a turn and then repeat) The set idle speed and then check idle mixture again.  

the distributor cap says delco-remy...i put the timing at 8degrees advanced and adjusted the idle mixture screws and the truck idles much better..thanks  

Tuff4x4:
the distributor cap says delco-remy...i put the timing at 8degrees advanced and adjusted the idle mixture screws and the truck idles much better..thanks

Glad to be of help. Listen for ping using 89 and if it is clean, try bumping it up to 10 BTDC and re-tweak carb. You want to get to the point of just a occasional ping with 89 and you will have best power and MPG from it.  

I run my 68 at 10-12 depending on the conditions and fuel grade, I would imagine you don't have 12.5:1 compression and a tunnel ram as mine does.

sounds like you may have a HEI distributor (the coil is on top of the dist. cap under the cover that says delco remy on it)If it still has the points type in it set the dwell angle at 30-32 degrees.
like the snoman says 8-10 and be sure to check the vacuum advance, at an idle it will keep the revs up if it has proper vacuum by advancing the timing, on acceleration vacuum gets less and centrifugal mechanical advance takes it's place.


the old girls getting rough, I don't have time for her anymore.

 

I put a cam in my 350 4bolt, it had the points system and i had to put a HEI dist on it because i cant set the points it would not fire so when i put the HEI dist on TDC 0 it fire right up why is this can anyone help.  

you can use a feeler gadge to set the points in the ball park or as some use a match book cover for a gadge, had to be something simple. could have even hooked the coil wire on the + side of the coil instead of the -  

Barcus71Chevy:
I put a cam in my 350 4bolt, it had the points system and i had to put a HEI dist on it because i cant set the points it would not fire so when i put the HEI dist on TDC 0 it fire right up why is this can anyone help.

First things first, are you getting any spark at all?