someone call?
you did remember to have the vacuum disconnected and plugged when you set the timing?
assuming you've got the line to the right port on the carb, yes there should basically be vacuum there alla time, not necessarily "constant", but the symptoms may indicate that the advance can on the distributor is frapped so the vacuum isn't moving the dist as designed .... pop the cap and make sure the base plate in there can move freely - if not maybe the springs are shot - if yes get a vacuum pump and see if the advance is responding
Bill
