mechanical advance

Thanks, right now my engine seems to like about 22* of initial timing, i'll take a look at the internals of the distributor soon.

That is a shot in the dark. If you are using vac advance, disconnect and plug it. Get your initial reading with your timing light at idle. Then grab the throttle with your free hand and Revv the motor up in RPM to where you see it stops advancing on the Timing Light. Subtract your initial from that number and that is what your mechanical advance is.

Example: 22* - 34* = 12* mechanical advance