Base timing. Really ?

I have done a lot of reserch on this topic. Even found a real good slant six club magazine that spells everything out written by doug durta.

Go to FBO Performance Ignition for all Makes, Muscle Cars, Street Rods, Race Engines. Specializing in Mopar Ignition Products, Distributors to Computer control ECU's.  Home of the HRR688,

I use his plates in the distributor plus he has great info on his website.
On all my cars with the decent cams I have set them anywhere between 16- 20 degrees at idle. use his plate to lock out the distibutor so I only get 35 total mechanical. And I use the vacumn advance

He even has bushings for MSD distributors, more than what you can get from MSD

I even did this on a slant six that was crazy hard to start and would idle like crap. This slant has 4 barrel and an agressive cam ( installed in 1991 cant rember the specs anymore) Once i upped the timing to I think either 10 or 12 degrees ( its been awhile) put the plate in it starts after a few cranks and never stalls anymore.