Torque convertor and detonation

Why does everybody seem to want to run race-timing in a streeter.......
You don't have a race car, no race convertor, no race gears, no race cam. Why race timing? Especially with an automatic and 3.23s?
I agree with what most guys are saying and here is my 2cents;
For 87gas, your low-stalled, hiway-geared, low-compression engine usually needs a two-stage curve, ramp it up from 12* at idle to ~20/24@ stall, then stretch it out to all-in around 34*@ no sooner than 3600; then fine tune it over time.
If she is too sluggish off the line for you, then get more stall.
If you give her fresh cool air, then you might be able to run a wee bit more Power-Timing.
If you run a lot of hiway, then stall it at around cruise rpm; say 2600/2800; which will allow you quicken the timing curve some..
That engine is only making maybe 130psi, so should be able to run 87 all the time: Check your sparkplug heatrange. Keep her cool.