Need advance curve help for mid-'60s 230 inline 6

[camrycurt]

Hey guys,

I am the proud new owner of a 1970 C10 that I bought because I love these trucks and wanted a weekend hobby to keep me busy. My truck runs OK but there is enough wrong to keep me busy for a while. I also know next to nothing about working on engines (but am eager to learn), and most of what I know has come from reading this forum (which is great!) over the last two months.

Anyway, my truck came with a retrofitted inline 6 230 engine, which as best I can tell came out of a pre-emissions mid '60s car because it has the Rochester BV carb and not the M which I think most of the trucks/vans came with. I'm working my way around the engine compartment replacing/fixing things, and it's time to tackle the ignition system, so I was wondering if anyone could give me the stock mechanical advance curve specs for a '63 or '64 pre-emissions 230 car engine? If possible, can I also get the specs for the initial base timing and idle speed as well?

My truck was upgraded to HEI, and I've read numerous threads that say you should recurve the HEI distributor to match the engine's original specs, but I just don't know what the original advance curve specs are. I have a 1969 truck service manual that lists specs for the 230s Chevy was using in 1969 in the G10/P10, but I think those are emissions specs because the base timing spec is TDC, which, from what I've read, is an emissions set up.

Anyway, I know I maybe should have posted this in the 60-66 forum, but I thought I'd try here in case someone has some knowledge about these car engines.

Thanks so much for the help, and I really appreciate this forum and all of the generous expert help it has to offer.

Curt

[ebfabman]

Hey Curt, here is some good reading....hope it helps

[camrycurt]

Ebfabman, thanks so much for the help!