440 Barracuda Notch So Hot

isn't 44 total timing little high for a street car,i would think 34-38,44 would be great on some very high octane high horsepower motor,also what water pump is in it,you said you changed the thermostat,make sure theres no air pocket in it and been burbed,can you see flow in the radiator after the thermostat open and you rev it to like 1000 rpm,is there any air bubbles in radiator which will indicate a bad head gasket or cracked head,how many fins on propeller on water pump,a a/c water pump would have more fins than a non a/c water pump