340 Initial timing questions

I say give it as much initial as it wants, limit the centrifugal advance in the distributor, and run the piss out of it.

I had a similar question about my little 340 a couple years ago:
Why so much inital timing???

Mine is 9.6 SCR w/ 231* 108LSA + 4 HFT cam. Cranks at 165psi in all 8 and likes a ton of initial. I've got it set now at 28 w/ a total of 34. My take away message is that each engine has it's own little personality. Find what it likes and stick with it. Don't be afraid to run 30* initial.