timing questions on 225 v6

The FSM says 5 degrees BTC is the correct setting. It also says that the timing is set with the vacuum advance disconnected. I did all of that but when I reconnected the vacuum line the engine started a lot harder and the engine now reads 8 degrees BTC. Is this correct, I didn't expect the timing to jump up 3 degrees when it's at an idle.
The FSM also said to hook the timing light to #1 plug wire but I couldn't see anything when I did that. I had to hook the timing light to the coil wire to get a reading that I could see.
Have I done everything right or not.

 

The timing light needs to be connected to the number 1 plug wire, period. Anything else will give you a false reading. Set the idle to the proper rpm, disconnect the vacuum advance and plug the vacuum line, hook the light to the battery and the probe to the number 1 spark plug wire, facing the proper direction if its marked.

 

To help you see the marks.. you could put some paint on the balancer and timing marks. White out, or maybe chalk would do the trick.

 

Compression on nr 1 and then look-see where your timing mark is. May give you a starting point.

 

Check to make sure you have spark on #1. If you don't have all 6 firing right it will be harder to start/also out of time. The only way you will know that you are at 5 or 8 deg BTDCC is if you are connected to #1 plug and you have spark on it.