[Jerry Parr WI]

Mostly a lot of good advice. It may help to consider what a more modern fully automatic advance distributor does. It has two advance systems. A centrifugal advance that adjusts the timing based on speed and a vacuum advance that adjusts timing based on load. For starting both systems are fully retarded (lever up). As the engine speed increases the timing is advanced by the centrifugal system. As the vacuum increases the vacuum system advances the timing. At speed without heavy load the system is at maximum advance (lever down). The ideal position for full advance varies with timing setting and engine but should be just short of knocking. Loading the engine (accelerating or hill climbing) causes the timing to retard as does reducing speed. The ideal position of the lever would be to match these conditions. A running engine should almost never be at fully retarded as even at steady idle the vacuum advance should be near maximum advance.