Howdy folks-
I've recently had success in bringing down a high idle but am now chasing down some gremlins to smooth out the idle and get rid of the bad exhaust smell.

Today I've replaced my old plugs which were old, and checked timing....timing was very advanced!
Based on all the little "fudges" I've seen so far my best guess is that someone messed with stuff to get this car through DEQ/emissions (it last lived in Portland).

My idle still isn't smooth and the exhaust is stinky. Isn't running rich.

I checked the dwell for the fuel mixture via the test plug in the engine comp and found the dwell to be 38....seems like my mixture is lean which makes sense.

The above dwell test was taken with the 02 sensor still attached, I'm unclear if its supposed to be disconnected for this test (the Green book procedure uses a CO meter to do the fuel mixture setting which I don't have).

So basically I'm wondering if I need to disconnect the 02 to get the specified 45 dwell or if it matters.

Also, on the topic of O2, how does one test one? I have the Green book info but once again the procedure involves a CO meter.

Hoping to get this sorted out, the car does drive better now with the timing back in the right neighborhood but I know the idle can be smoother and it shouldn't smell so nasty!

thanks,
Abra