Base timing. Really ?

around .20 down in the hole, and then the open chamber 452 heads which are 88cc i believe and the thicker head gaskets..The pistons are the TRW L2355.
with those specs, 9.4 Scr is totally possible and the 108 cam in at plus2* makes for an Ica of 68*. And then the pressure cannot be 185plus. The Wallace says a tic under 140psi.
And so, I think a new compression test would be a good thing to do, but don't use the same gauge,lol.

However, in light of my previous post, and what others have said, I think just slowing the timing down, should cure the detonation.