Do you set idle with the car in park, or in gear, (with somebodys foot on the brake pedal) ?

 

what year, motor?

 

With a carburetor, set it while in park. With FI, you shouldn't have to "adjust" the idle.
If you do, something else is wrong (bad IAC, vacuum leak, etc.)

 

1970 SS 350 stock, 1406 edelbrock carb. What should the idle be set at? sticker says 600 rpm? that sounds low and when i put it in gear, it sounds even lower.

 

600 at idle would be fine if it was a manual trans. Try 800 and see how it feels.

 

Oh I forgot, its an Automatic. I did raise it up to 800 at idle and when i put it in gear, it drops to exactly 600 rpm. Havent got to drive it yet, but just set it today with a multimeter (since my car doesnt have a tach). Timing also says 6 BTDC. I did that, my timing pointer, only goes up to the #6, (meaning 6 degrees). Thought about trying to advance it to 9 or 10 degrees, by eye balling it to see how it does.

 

Is a harmonic balancer hard to install? Or is it just the one bolt and pulling it off? Wanted to get one that had the degrees on it so I can time it right.

 

Noooo, don't bother doing that unless your harmonic damper is bad. Do this: http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...kr=timing+tape

 

Cool Thx...Just ordered the MSD ones. Now, how do I find TDC if its not marked correctly on the balancer? Just so I can make sure i install the tapes right

 

Do you have a reason to believe the damper isn't marked correctly?
To check TDC, remove all the spark plugs so you can turn the engine over easily by hand. Install a piston stop into the #1 spark plug hole and adjust it according to instructions. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-4795/ Note: if you have the large style spark plugs (gasket ring, not tapered), get the larger piston stop.
Slowly turn the engine over clockwise till the engine stops, and make a mark on the damper where TDC is on the timing tab. Now turn the engine back counter-clockwise till it stops again, and make another TDC mark on the damper. Between the two marks you just made is TDC.