Thanks to everyone over the winter as i used alot of advise from the board by looking up others questions but i guess its time to come out of hiding to pay credit. I am stuck the motherload of all on how to get even a basic idea of how to tune up an 85' dodge van b-150. I know it would be good to get the actual shop manual but in the mean time i don't have 3 weeks to wait. Haynes is useless as many know ( it took an educated guess to figure the idle RPM screw was on the solenoid)when you have to figure things out that the manual doesn't say what's the point.
Apparently their is several things you have to plug, jump,and disconnect all trying just to keep the thing running so you can even get the timing before it dies ( lack of idle but where to start)
changed plugs, coil, rotor, everything got timing set perfect drove like brand new, I was lucky, a fluke, that the tune was close but i thought lets improve and now i'm back to square one (should've left it)
does anybody know what to plug and what to jump where to do this properly(im surprized i didnt damage the engine enough trying to figure blind)
Ive checked other sources for information but all thats not specific for my setup (holley 1945) or same carb different vacuum ports etc or different procedure. For such a simple non complex engine the variety in carbs and emissions is mind boggling Id have to make a safe bet no engine has ever came close to this WOW!!!

Hi! Welcome to the board. I have a 1986 Dodge van with a 225 and an (ex) California emissions package. I also have 1984 and 1986 van shop manuals, so I can help there too.

First off, describe, specifically, what ignition and emissions package you have. Spark controll computer? Lean Burn? Both? Neither? 85 was the last year you could get a non computer controlled slant six engine in a van, but there were plenty of other possibilities.

Generally, if you have a coimputer controlled ignition system all you set is the base timing. If you have a computer controlled carb (also known as a feedback carb) all you set is the idle speed, but this has several steps to it.

I can probably tell you how to adjust these things, but I need to know what emissions package and computer controls the van has.

its canadian built with ESA and holley 1945 without feedback all it has is the idle stop selnoid and fast idle cam for ajustment. Emissions include one canister, EGR, and single catalyst no O2 sensor no A/C. To make things worse i dont believe the hood (therefore emission sticker) to be original since it doesn't show the air injection schematic athough Hanyes at least cleared that up. Hanyes speaks about refering to the sticker for instructions but all it says is plug ESA vacuum to set basic timing, simple enough but i found out theres more to setting the idle solenoid.
heres what i gather
1) set basic timing with ESA capped off
2) remove pvc, cap EGR and canister
3) run jumper wire from positive battery terminal to solenoid positive lead wire?
4) remove idle screw insert 1/8 hex adjust solenoid to what speed i dont know
5) insert idle screw and adjust RPM (750 automatic)
6) ajust fast idle with or without block offs i dont know

any alaboration you could give me would be great !

Oy. ESA is a real crapshoot. Assuming that your computer is functioning correctly (this assumes good wiring and sensor operation, as well as a non-blown vacuum pod on the computer and working computer) you can adjust the basic timing. However, I suggest you just dump the computer in favor of ther HEI ignition system. It is a very very easy swap to do on a vehicle that was built with HEI.

You have the procedure for setting the timing correct. Disconnect and plug the hose going to the computer, place a piece of paper between the idle stop solenoid and the ground on the carb body, and set the timing as normal.

To set the idle speed correctly you have to unscrew the little thing on the back of the solenoid and use a hex wrench to sewt the speed, then put the little screw back in. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for info: http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroke ... 1a825e.jsp

Autozone has some surprisingly detailed tech instrucxtions on their website. I think they actually have scanned in old shop manuals.

The link to Autozone blows me away! Thank you much! like I said i had it running perfect just by luck but i decided to " fine tune " it that got me in trouble. Going by what i seen on another web site (similar to what autozone shows) I screwed the idle up on the solenoid (adjusting it when the van wasnt running to clean it out) I couldnt get the idle to start it up again this and i had to rigg a manual choke cable days ago(broke the stove)getting the van warmed up again without blowing the works URRGH A frustrating ordeal so I figured I better get the how to before I end Up blowing the engine FUNNY blowing an engine in order to give it a tune up. senseless

Ill go on your advise and THANK YOU, THANK YOU