Vacuum/Mechanical Advance Dilemma SB340

RustyRatRod said
17 and 31 are both "somewhat" low. I would try more initial timing and that of course will raise total. Small blocks generally like total timing figures in the 34-36 degree neighborhood. If you can run a compression test, that would give us more information to work with. It's probably a low compression build from your description so far and there's nothing wrong with that. They can be made to run well. They just need a lot of initial timing. If you can also tell us "what cam" and "WHERE" it was installed. In other words was it degreed or just slapped in dot to dot? Remember too, that vacuum advance is never included when timing an engine. It's initial and mechanical only and vacuum advance "just is what it is".

I can add more timing. I assume this will help idle. There will be a limit as I believe the compression is not low. The guy who built it put a big cam in it so he probably went min with 10:1 my guess. I sure wish I could upload a video so you guys could hear the idle.
I will do a dry compression test on all cylinders its going to be a while as I am still out of commission medically. So I I weave that into the plan. What information will the compression test give us with respect to tuning etc?

Ok now regarding the cam. I had an engine builder shop look at the engine as it was taking more than 52 degree of total timing. The guy said something was not right. He pulled the water cover off and as suspected there was an offset on the chain As can be seen here. Was this a problem? Is this how you advance an engine internally? By 10 degrees?