timing issue or not?

Sounds like it is too lean to me. Eddy carbs like more initial timing. I set up my 360 with the .100 front with 75x47 metering rods and .95 rear jets. Timing is 18* initial and 34* mechanical, 52* with the vacuum hooked up. Edelbrock has a tuning chart in the owners manual for the carbs, which will help you tune it to the proper setting for the series you are running, weither you want it to run rich for performance or lean for economy. What carb are you running?