273 Can't get too much timing - confused

I've had a low compression race engine that needed 30 degrees of added timing to get it to detonate... 7.6 SCR and in the upper 5's for DCR LOL. The distributor got whacked around in a hard race, and put around 40 degrees added initial in it, and it finally destroyed a forged piston. So low compression will be a LOT more forgiving.

Yes, your bad ears might be a factor.