Timing Question for 360

So I've been reading as much as I can here about setting timing to ensure that I know what the deal is and am able to set my 360 duster up the best I can. I've converted to electronic ignition, and rebuilt the motor with a 68 340 spec cam. My question is when I'm setting the timing, I've got the vacuum advanced unplugged from the carb and plugged up. I get my timing light, vacuum gauge, and I've found, per the vacuum gauge, that the car likes best to be set at about 34 degrees BTDC, so advanced 34. Is this normal, because I read the articles about total timing, initial timing and so on, and I get confused as to if I've done this correct. When I experimented with setting my timing, it ran like a dog, horrible. But as I continued to advance the timing, it began to run better and read on my vacuum gauge to be operating in a "Normal Engine" range. Am I crazy?