First ride and few questions

[mr. fix it]

The balancer has been verified when the motor was built.
By saying vacuum timing you mean setting idle advance using vacuum?

I mean setting the timing by watching the vacuum increase or decrease as you move the distributor
Hence it reaches the max vac at idle readjust at your cruising speed and the engine should be at optimum timing

 

[tbm3fan]

I mean setting the timing by watching the vacuum increase or decrease as you move the distributor
Hence it reaches the max vac at idle readjust at your cruising speed and the engine should be at optimum timing

This is the way I do all my cars. Find max vacuum and then dial back 1mm Hg then lock it down. If I hear any pinging while pulling up a grade I'll dial it back 1mm at a time if needed.

 

[mr. fix it]

Sounds like you are foing the right thing.

From time to time I have run into weak or too strong centrifugal internal springs in the distributor will cause some funky driving issues...