360 trouble. please help

Thats right, timing first.Actually, maybe the fuel is first.
Getting a tune done is like trying to hit a moving target.First you take a shot at the timing. Then you sneak up on the carb tune. Then you take another shot at the timing. If it responds favorably, maybe take another crack at the carb. And so it goes, until one day, you decide, enough.
And then they go and change the fuel, or you decide to try a different fuel; and its back to square one.Or you change the cam,or intake,or headers,gears,etc
Of course experience and equipment can whittle down the time factor from all summer to; a couple,a few,or several hours, at most.