Best investment you could make to help yourself and save money would be to buy a Gregorys Workshop Manual.All the answers to questions you are asking would be found in one of these manuals.
Still available new ( approx $60) , for FX through to HR the book number you would want is number 67 to cover FB/EK.Or you could try getting same from Evilbay or a swap meet in 2nd hand condition for around $20 or so.
If you want one to cover the 173 engine then book number 146 ( HQ/HJ 6 cyl ) would suffice.
In the absence of having one here's some helpers,
Ignition timing 173 ( HQ ) is 5 degrees BTDC ( before top dead centre )
If it has the original timing cover each graduation mark on the cover means two degrees advance.
Contact point gap is 0.019 to 0.025 thousandths of an inch.
To adjust point gap.
To make it simple I won't mention how to do it with a dwell meter.
Find a feeler guage with blade measuring 0.025 thou.Best to set at 0.025 than 0.019 as the gap will close as the points rubbing block wears.
Take dizzy cap off and rotor button.
Turn engine so that one of the six cam lobes on the dizzy shaft is at the high point in contact with the ignition points rubbing block and the ignition points are fully open.
Open points up with a screwdriver blade and check condition of contacts.If they are worn,dirty or have a high spot on them you should clean them up using a points file or better still, use a new set of points.
Insert feeler guage blade into points gap.If it is hard to insert the blade then the points gap needs to be widened and if the blade just slips in with a sloppy feel then the gap needs to be closed.
To adjust points gap undo adjusting screw slightly enough to be able to move points gap with a screwdriver.
The feeler guage blade should just drag very slightly between the contacts if the gap is right.
Retighten the adjusting screw and recheck points gap again as it can change when the screw is tightened.
Then adjust ignition timing.Don't do timing first then the points gap as points gap adjustment can change ignition timing.
Thats about it, sounds complicated but isn't really when someone actually shows you how to do it but it's bloody hard to describe how to do it simply using words.
Again, buy or lend a workshop manual.You can learn a whole lot from them for very little outlay.
Hope this helps, and doesn't sound too confusing
I can't think what to write here so this will do.
, put it in neutral or just touch the acclerator and its as smooth as a jap 4. is it timing, idle speed, or fuel/air mix ratio? 
Woofto Car Club Member No4
) what should the timing set at for a stock 173 red?
