360 timing

Ted; That car looks like a pretty nice score.
-That one sheet appears to be a work-sheet, projecting end results much like the old "desk-top dyno". The numbers on it seem to all be theoretical, or projected.
-With the numbers you provided as to tire size and rpm/mph, the math comes to about 3.23 rear gears.Probably not the best for that engine, but for you, may be acceptable. And yes, too much timing at full load WOT will quickly wreck stuff. Esp.pistons
-As to the thermostat, 195 may be a little high for that engine, especially until we get the timing worked out.
-Yes, at 14* initial, it wont perform very well until it gets wound up some.And we could just take the dist. cam out now, take some timing away from that 20* dist., and start from there. But the thing is A) HE doesnt seem to know his way around engines, much less dist.cams, and B) WE dont know what his engine will accept for power-timing with his available fuel and C) Once we know what max timing will be limited to, we will be able to very closely figure out how much to take out of that dist.-cam,for a nice idle and off idle tip in; instead of guessing at it. Im thinking "baby-steps" here.

Now, to crackedback: I see that you are a senior member, with nearly 14000 posts. I have also seen that you give excellent advices. I would not question your skills as a mechanic, a tec, or a teacher. We both know that in the time it takes to produce some of these posts, in our driveways, we could have had this beast running like the champion it was built to be.So if you like,I will bow out, and you may take over.Respectfully, AJ.