Anyone here ever have their pistons machined?

LOL. Don't worry about treadin water. I'm just tryin to help you man. I know you have to be way more frustrated with the car than we are with you. And no, I do not remember you going into depth about adjusting the mechanical advance in the distributor. Let me ask you this....are you 100% sure you are doing it correctly?

oh and 31* of initial timing is way too much, IMO. What type of ignition box do you have? I wonder it it's possible it is getting advanced there?