Timing Gun with Battery in Trunk?

[Bannon]

OK, My new Superformance is running rough and backfires if I stab the throttle at idle. I was told that the primary culprit was bad gas or winter gas. The problem has been getting progressively worse through the last 3 tanks of gas. The last one I got from an Amoco out of the city (to try an get non winter gas) and included a bottle of Octane boost. I have tried to richen the idle mixture slightly but still not any better.

I'd like to check the timing but as I was pulling out my timing light it occured to be that with the battery in the trunk it wouldn't reach. Is there anywhere under the hood I can hook it up to get power? maybe the starter soleniod or something?

Also I know with a vacuum advance you need to need to pull the vacuum hose on the distributer to check the timing at idle. My car appears to have a mechanical advance. Is the enything special I need to do?


Thanks

John Bagley