my name is mike, im 18 years old and i have a 67 camaro with a 454. i recently rebuilt the motor and am still working out the adjustments. the guy i bought the cam from said that the timing should be 34 degrees. i have a MSD in cap coil with a HEI, i adjusted it to 34 degrees but it just doesnt sound right, also when i try and start the car it struggles to start, i have to turn the key off and try again, eventually it cranks smoothly and starts right up. the only way it cranks smoothly every time is if its at about 10 degrees. but then doesnt fire. Is it possible that the distributor is off a tooth?

34° should be your total timing. That would put your base timing at about 12°. (with 22° mechanical).

Read John Z's Timing 101 !

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=150344&highlight=timing+101

therefore should i adjust timing at idle or high rpm. if so what should the timing be set at if i leave the vaccum advance on, and what should the timing be if i disconnect the vaccum advance and plug it with my finger?

Set your total timing with vacuum advance plugged (a golf tee works well for plugging the hose). Have someone hold the accelerator at 3000 RPM's and adjust your distributor to 34°, total timing. You can then let car return to idle, and check your base timing. If the car won't idle, try adjusting the carburetor. When you are done, plug in the vacuum advance, and test drive it.

Before you begin, Mark the base of your distributor with a sharpie, where the No.1 cylinder tower is on the cap. That way you know where the no.1 cylinder is with the cap off.

If you think that the distributor is not installed properly, rotate the engine to 0° or TDC on your balancer. At this point your distributor's rotor should be pointed directly at the No.1 cylinder OR the No.6 cylinder tower. If it is pointed to the number 6 cylinder, rotate the engine's crankshaft 1 full turn. Now, the rotor should be pointing directly at the No. 1 cylinder Tower. To check that you are on the compression stroke, wiggle the rocker arms on the No. 1 cylinder. They should both be loose. (valves are closed)

My cam is stated to be advanced to 34 degrees. Dont i want the motor to be advanced at 34 degrees at idle, not mid to high rpms? When i did the rebuild i installed little bit higher compression pistons, would the struggling to start at 34 degrees be from the higher compression and stock big block starter? or do i want 34 degrees at 3000rpm and about 12 at idle?

I would go for the 34 at 3000 RPM. Vacuum advance unplugged ! I am not sure what your cam instructions are trying to say. Can you scan it, and post here ? Usually, cams are ground about 4° advanced. That is valve timing and not ignition timing.

a guy in sayreville, nj who built my 509 got me the cam and said its to be advanced 34 degrees

May be he meant 3 to 4 degrees ? It might have sounded like 34 ? Also, that is done with your timing chain sprocket or a cam bushing.

Either way, just follow the basics above
disconnect the VA....with timing light, increase rpms till it stops will be around the 3000 to 3500 rpms, set the timing at around 34/36 degs.
What u have at idle is what you get....
It will be close to the ball park assuming that the dizzy is set up for pre HEI and have the3 correct VA for manifold vaccuum.