we went to adgust the timing the other day until we relised we didnt know which spark plug to run the timing light off so which one is it and where abouts is it.

number 1

look at the rotor and it will point to a notch in the dizzy.

Thats where the lead from No1 is, goes to the front (front is front) right cylinder. Drivers side here in Oz.

as far as im aware you should always time off of cylinder no 1. if you have a inducive timing light you just clip the connector to the lead for number 1 cylinder where ever its easiest to get to. number 1 cyl is the front right cylinder as you stand at the back of the bus looking towards the front. if your timing light is a cheaper non inducive you will have pull the lead and insert insert female light connector to plug and then the male light connector to the lead. i have 2 bugs and found this style of light almost imp to use as everything is hard to get to inducive light is much easier. you should alsocheck your idle speed and dwell previous to doing your timing. with this in mind i bought a kit from kmart auto for 49 bucks that has a tacho, dwell meter,inducive light and comp tester. the idiots guide says timing for a 76 bus engine code gd on should be set at 7 and a half degrees btdc carbon cannister hose disconnected at air cleaner, at idle vacuum hoses on.
if using a static timing light( not strobe ) clip to coil where thin wire leads to dizzy and ground on solid metal. i find it much easier to use a strobe

yeah ive got a strobe anyway, thanx for that i couldnt figure out which cylinder was the 1st one. does te tacho n all that really help or shud i just go off guessing

dwell is important to your timing but u will get close by gapping your points feeler guage style

yeah i used feeler gauges the other day so its all sweet

As far as i know does not matter what engine yr looking at you must use number 1 spark plug lead as all timming reference points are done from this cylinder