Rich Carb

3762, I agree in your case with 13.5:1 compression, a ton of gear and a very high stall converter you dont need to worry about initial timing. You most likely have the distributor locked out. If not your converter will flash high enough that your at full advance anuways.

In a street car with higher gearing, lower stall, lower compression and a heavier car initial timing is very important. It will improve low end response and idle quality.

The stock 340 cam will like 12 to 14 degrees initial. The XE274 is going to want to see 16 to 18*

My 500hp 340 was set for 22* initial and 36* total. That was 11:1 compression [email protected]" solid cam, 8" converter and 4.30 gears. If it were a pure race car I would have just locked the timing out.