Need help setting timing and carb

I've go a 72 dart with a 318, edelbrock rpm man., and a carter afb 4bbl. I'm not sure if the cam is stock of mild. I can't seem to get the timing set right. I tried to set it useing these instruction that some one put in another thread, http://automotivemileposts.com/garage/v2n8.html , this on to be exact. I got the highest vacuum at about 20 inches, but this put my inital at around 20*, the motor seem tp be running pretty smooth, but I was unable to restart the motor. I had to bump the timing back down. I could also use soom advice on tuning the carb as far as for the best idle. Any help is much apperchated.