Ken---No problem in leaving the vacuum retard disconnected, if plugged.
(So there's no loss of vacuum.)
12 deg. ATDC is too much retard. If you still want to use the "clean
air" feature of the retard, set the timing at 12 deg. BTDC. There's 16
deg. of retard built into this unit, when working as designed. This
would mean the engine should be idling at 4 deg. ATDC.
Idling with the timing set at 4 deg. ATDC tends to warm up the engine
quicker, when idling, such as in traffic. The temperature compensator,
when working, will advance both ignition timing and idle speed, when it
kicks in. This lowers the engine coolant temperature. So...While this
feature can make an engine run hotter at idle, it can also aid in
cooling it off, after the fact. Your choice, of course. There's little
to be gained, performance wise, when this is disconnected, as it is only
in operation at idle speeds.
Dick Taylor
'73
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