Misc distributor / timing questions

[Flex BT]

I'm getting ready to put a new distributor on my Jeep and set the timing and had a few questions.

Should I use RTV on the distributor gasket? I didn't know how this would work since the dizzy will be getting spun around for the timing and if this would create more of an issue than it would be potentially solving.

Does the bracket that tightens the distributor on go on with the "fingers" pointing down on the distributor, or pointing up away from it?

When setting the timing I'd like to get more advance on it since I did the Teamrush upgrade and got a new better coil, wires, plugs gapped to 45, etc. and think I could get away with more. Is 12 BTDC a good number to shoot for? Do I need to rev the engine up from idle to hear the potential knocking and can I do that while the vaccum advance is off (while setting the timing) or will it only happen when everything is connected properly? What RPM do I need to get it up to in order to be "all clear"?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Torxhead]

What is the "New" distributor? Rebuilt, reman, or a different style like a D.U.I. I have never had any issues with just using a gasket, and the "Fingers" point down on the distributor shaft collar to help hold it down. Your distributor, whaterever kind it is, has a preset amount of mechanical advance in it. So the further you set the initial advance, the further the maximum advance will be. So if you know how much advance the distributor has you should set the initial advance with that in mind, You should want about 28 degrees of total advance. A good way to check this would be to install one of those degree tapes that wrap around the vibration dampner. Then you could see just how much and when your max advance comes in. Or like most people, you could just "Wing it" set an initial advance of about 8 degrees, go for a test drive and play with it from there. The oem specs for the '81 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l are for 8 degrees btdc at 650 rpm.

 

[Flex BT]

The distributor is a reman. from Napa. Even though it's a reman I trust their parts more than Omix or Crown, plus it was half the price. I didn't think it was prudent to get a $300 DUI when I just got a nice new coil. If anyone has other commentary let me know, I'd rather have something that will perform better and spend a little more cash.