I just finished swapping out the distributor, intake and carb on my 1955 292 to a 57 intake, Holley carb and 57 distributor.   The engine sounds much stronger.  My timing mark is the older type with a pointer and one small notch on the pulley.  Is this mark TDC?  I don't see any other degree marks anywhere.    I used my timing light to set the timing to be what I believe is about 5-6 degrees advanced.   The engine seems to idle too fast and the idle screw won't lower it.    Where should the initial timing be on this engine?

Talkwrench has (unfortunately) opened the right can. Which Holley carb is a key. There's ways to find TDC without taking the motor apart, but you really don't need that. Next question is are you using a vacumn advance and is it hooked up to manifold or ported vacumn? If it's manifold, try moving it to the ported port on the Holley. That might make the idle screw slow it down enough. The bright side is the motor sounds stronger, how does it drive? This is probably a tuning issue.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

The carb is a brand new Holley 465 CFM from Summit.  The distributor is a rebuild unit from Cardone.  The intake is a stock 1957 Ford "D" code.  The intake doesn't leak water and it seemed to go on with no issues.   I will check the vacuum with a gauge today.  I am guessing at the timing as I have no timing marks to go on.  I also don't know if the mark on the pulley is accurate.    I suppose I could buy a timing light with a degree setting, dial in 38 degrees and set it that way.   What I'm most concerned about is a vacuum leak as I can't get the idle screw to lower the RPM much under 800.  I messed with the automatic choke.  I may have created a problem there?