There should be a vacuum source on the carb above the throttle body that gives spark ported vacuum. You can connect a tube from this source to the distributor.
how do you hook up vacuum lines in a 1988 Chevy nova
It has to be hooked to a vacuum port that only has vacuum on it when you give it gas, That is called ported vacuum. If you look at the holly, you will see some small vacuum ports on it, start engine and witch ever one don't suck on your finger then that will be the 1 you hook it to. Then plug the rest if you don't need them for something else.
Ant vacuum port.
That should be a 350 cubic inch engine with a carburator, HEI ignition with a vacuum advance. You will need to hook up a timing light to number one (1) cylinder. That is the front plug on the driver's side. Start the engine and let it warm up. There is an indicator on the front lower side of the engine. It is marked with the degrees. Disconnect the vacuum from the advance and plug it off and then adjust the timing to the desired specs. Tighten the distributor and plug in the advance. If you do not get an increase in rpm when the vacuum is connected, then the vacuum advance is bad.
start engine ,plug off vacuum line to advance on distributer ,set at 6-8 degrees btc with a timing light hooked on #1 cylinder,tighten dist. , hook vac. hose back up.done
All engines must have a harmonic balancer instaled on them. Balanced or not. Hook a vacuum gauge to direct vacuum port on intake. That is a place that will have vacuum on it when the engine is running at an idle. Then read gauge and move the distributor until you get the highest vacuum reading. It should be 18 to 21 inches of vacuum at an idle.
Any place that has constant vacuum Usually on the back side at the base of the carb.
Need to know which engine and which transmission.
get a pointer ==Answer= try using a vacuumm gauge hook the guage up to where the distributor is plugged into start the engine advance the distributor until the vacuum guage stops climbing the back it off one degree good luck
engine vacuum or direct into the intake.
Your distributor needs vacuum to advance your timing during acceleration. That's why you hook up your line to the port that has no vacuum at idle. :O)
You must replace it . Remove the 2 screewes that hold it to the distributor base and it will then slide out and the 90 degree rod will drop out of the bass plate hole as you are moving it. Then put the new 1 on and hook the vacuum hose to it.