28* initial timing for a 318? How can that be?

92b said
I get it. Hard to trust the message if you don't trust the messenger. But that by itself doesn't mean the message is wrong.

This can be true. Especially if one is making a rational arguement and the participants are trying to reach a common goal - such as better understanding of some specific phenomenon. Thats not the case the case here, and I can name several others as well, who insist there is only one way, their way. If they seem successful, then perhaps they are right, but when they are discredited, then we know that what they are preaching is not so.

TT5.9mag said
The message is wrong because of the way it’s being presented.

I'll disagree with you on that. The message is wrong. If it was presented as "it depends" then it would be a different message.

TT5.9mag said
Maybe it’s got too much camshaft, maybe it doesn’t have enough compression for the duration. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Yup. And we do what we can to make our stuff work. Not many of us have the luxury to do another engine build.

TT5.9mag said
I have seen his results. He did do a good job. And I could also agree or disagree with his conclusions. I still think the message is wrong because of the way @Bewy presents it. His methods seem to indicate that MVA is better always and should be used by everyone, and he presents highlighted quotes from superhero’s saying why and how that’s true. Not showing the rest of the story for why that’s necessary in those situations. It’s misleading at the very least.

Yes. More so we do not have a comparison with a mechanical advance curve set up that would mechanically allow the same initial thereby allowing the use of timed port strictly for leaner mixes. I'm not actually suggesting he do that now. Its a lot of work for someone who is satisfied with the current arrangement.

Icetech said
But you just replied to one :) And you are wrong.. some of us are just trying to learn, not have our minds changed.. it makes me nuts how much timing my motor wants and i just tried to learn why.

I've seen a few people learn from some of the threads about timing, but can't recall any which devolved into pseudo-theoretical arguements changed any minds.
There was one thread where a person throught Chrysler used manifold vacuum source on a '66 273, and he went and checked the original carb. The carb had a timed port. So he learned something. But there was another thread where a similar thing happened, the person didn't beleivet Chrysler used a ported source so I suggested he go look for himself. We would then find out. He reported back that he discovered it was using ported. Somehow a post or two later he was back to saying I had it wrong. Go figure!