Beginning of Essay
There are four main steps involved in setting the timing on a normal engine utilizing a distributor. Setting the timing on an engine synchronizes the spark timing with the engine's compression stroke for maximum efficiency. First, pull the vacuum line off of th ....

Middle of Essay
.... help of a friend to sit in the car with his/her foot on the gas. With the engine running, point the gun at the harmonic balancer and pull the trigger. If the white chalk lines that you made earlier do not line up, the timing is incorrect. The final step is the adjustment. Loosen the bolt that holds the distributor in place and slightly turn the distributor. Check the timing again and continue adjustments until the timing is correct. Tighten the distributor and remove the timing gun. A correctly timed engine will have increases in performance, economy, and drivability. ....