pinging on an hill?

well, I didn't do anything except back off the timing to 9* initial and I came up the same hill today and I got no pinging......I still think I may be under jetted or power valved. I think I am going to get me some jets and play with it a little. Also I need a good recommendation for a distributor. The one I'm running now is a stock unit with the vacuum plate locked down and the advance removed. It looks like With just the initial and mechanical I am coming up short on the 35* total that is recommended. I think I am getting about 29-30* total.