Firecore Distributor Curve/Springs

Well, I had the opportunity to take it out with the sunshine yesterday and drive it a little harder. At 39 total, Im still getting a ping. Not like it was but its there. I pulled over and dialed it back by ear (no light with me) and bumped my idle back up a little bit and drove it home with no ping but it was noticeably not pulling over 4700rpm. Checked the timing when I got home and was at 18/34...shut it down and had some run-on. Im assuming the run on is from bumping up the idle screw and that I was was out of the idle circuit. So Ill pull it again tonight and back the mechanical down a little and try to get my 22 initial and 37 total and go from there? At 39 with a ping it was pulling a lot harder at high RPM than 34 with no ping, is that a timing issue?

Bare with me, I'm still learning. I know its different for every engine so Im not looking for "Your timing should be this and this" more want to understand all timings effects so I can contribute to all the timing threads instead of starting them like I did here.