Timing 440 by ear: Do it with vacum line attached or removed

[DocMel]

FOlks   Need clarification:  I know its been posted before, but its still unclear to me

Id like to tune my 440 by ear by using the hold at 2500 rpm, rotate distributor until it speeds up and will not speed up any more, then back off slightly

Question:  Do I do this with the vacum advance connected or disconnected and vacum line to carb plugged?

[Bullitt-]

Moparal did mine without vacuum advance......then checked with a light & she was dead on 36-degrees.

[Chryco Psycho]

I do it without vacum advance as well , but I do not reconnect the VA after, i just leave it off

[DocMel]

Im confused.  On my original posting near the bottom of the page it was stated to do tt with the vacum line attached?

[Moparal]

Plug the vacuum line off.   Are you sure your Mech. advance springs are out all the way at 2500?  Not sure why you want to do this that way, but it gets close if you have a good ear, steady hand and have the carb adjusted close. I would recomend maybe buying a cheap light in the future, or renting one from autozone or something to dbl check. You can check your initial timing afterwards to.  Stock cams vs aftermarket timing changes initial settings and ends up recurving distributors.