Timing and AFR questions

[Cudajason]

Back on my tuning journey, trying to get the most out of my engine.

2 questions come to mind.

When I put the timing light on my engine, the timing looks like its bouncing a bit. The light is not steady on the zero and seems like it skips a firing every now and again.

Could that be a distributor issue. The Distributor is the only part on the engine I have not replaced / upgraded etc. other then played with the timing curve and verified the reluctor gap.

AFR gauge question. For those that have used one, do you find the reading is stable. I am using a fast ARF meter, it has a nice large digital  display and reads both banks separately.

But both banks sort of flutter around at idle and makes it hard to get an accurate reading. At speed the reading is steady.

Is this normal, or could it be tied to question 1 around my distributor????

[Brads70]

I'd maybe check to see how much play is in the distributor gear/oil pump gear?  With the cap off turn the rotor back and forth?  Is the gap for the pick up coil in spec? ( what ever that is?) Maybe pickup coil is going bad?
As far as the AFR gauge, mine is never "rock steady" it does float around some, also changes with any sort of tap on the throttle which one would expect. If yours is not firing correctly , then yes I'd expect the AFR to be erratic .

[moreparts]

You may also want to verify the weight springs in your distributor aren't too weak by swapping in a heavier set.

[Mr Lee]

My Air / Fuel reading is not steady either. At idle or while driving.   I assumed that was just the nature of the beast. 
I guess it fluctuates around one point or so.  (ex. 13.7 - 14.7).  And then when you put your foot down, it drops down to the 12's.  But it's always bouncy. 

[DeathProofCuda]

My Air / Fuel reading is not steady either. At idle or while driving.   I assumed that was just the nature of the beast. 
I guess it fluctuates around one point or so.  (ex. 13.7 - 14.7).  And then when you put your foot down, it drops down to the 12's.  But it's always bouncy.

That is my experience as well.

My timing mark also bounces a bit.

[Bullitt-]

  I was thinking about the distributor collar when I ran across this post.
                 Are you still running the collar?

https://forum.e-bodies.org/engine-transmission-and-rear-end/4/seo/8242/msg113908#msg113908