Total timing advance suggestions

[AlanCasida]

I am planning on going to another test&tune session this Friday and I would like some total timing suggestions. Right now I am running 16 int with 37 total. I see on some posts here that some of you guys are running a lot more total timing. My buddy who races a lot of 460 stuff thinks I am running way too much total and suggested 18 int with 30 deg total advance. I am listing my specs below and am planning on running pump gas. Any help & suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This will probably be my last T&T session before Drag Week.
1965 Mustang
427/452 FE 4.25 bore 3.98 stroke
about 11:1 static compression
Comp 288R solid roller cam
.645 lift, 292 dur, 110 lobe sep, 106 c/l
TFS heads
TFS Track heat Cleveland intake on FE power intake adapter
950 Quickfuel carb
MSD ignition   

[67428GT500]

Alan:
I am all in at 38 degrees.  It seems most of the FEs like a lot of timing. The dyno guys thought it was too much too, but most of their work is GM stuff. This seems to be a common story for most FE vehicles.
                                                                       -Keith

[gdaddy01]

depending on how many passes you get to make , I would check the timing and make a pass , see what it runs , increase timing by 1 to 2 degrees , and see if it runs quicker , make more passes and keep increasing timing by 1 degree at a time until you slow down , go back down by 2 degrees for a little insurance form detonation . make sure you have a good timing light . may be old school , but that is the way I do it . 1 degree will make a difference .   

[cammerfe]

Back in the Day, the story on FE performance engines was to be sure the advance mechanism under the plate in the diz was set on the 10 degree end (so as to have 20 engine degrees) and then try to run as much as 18 initial for a total of 38. You could be sure of having no ping or run-on problems with Sunoco 260.

Recognize, of course, that the above is a generality and see how much initial it takes to do your best. It makes a massive difference at low RPMs to use as much as you can.

KS

[428 GALAXIE]

With tfs heads and piston waving at very top max advance 33-35 degrees.

[blykins]

I’d try 32-34 total with those heads and compression.

I agree, 37 is prob on the high side.

[My427stang]

I haven't used a set of TFS heads yet, got a 461 getting started here with them now, won't have any real info until November or so when we put it on the pump 

However, with your compression, assuming it's not running lean, and assuming a decent quench, I'd say that small chamber only wants 34 or so.

Hopefully Brent will see this, he has done a few now........ON EDIT: Looks like he beat me to the enter button LOL

[wowens]

OE iron heads usually ( back in my youth) liked 36 to 38 degrees. Modern aluminum heads with heart shaped chambers usually like 6 to 10 degrees less.

[e philpott]

X4 , those modern combustion chamber doesn't need as much timing as the old style chamber

[338Raptor]

Take Gdaddy01’s advise.
Start an 33 degrees and keep adding until your ET increases, then back off a degree or two. Don’t get hung up on any specific number of degrees, focus on the ET.

[Falcon67]

X4 , those modern combustion chamber doesn't need as much timing as the old style chamber

As above.  My iron head 351C runs locked 38, the 302 locked 34.  The AFD aluminum heads on the dragster 393C like 28. 

[67428GT500]

What dictates the change on the Aluminum heads? Chamber shape or head temperatures?

[Joe-JDC]

Chamber design, sparkplug location.  The more modern design promotes faster flame travel, and requires less timing.  Joe-JDC

[67428GT500]

I hope they don't require a re-curve. I went with the Edelbrocks with a bit of porting and 2.19-1.75 exhaust. The compression is now at about 9.9 instead of 11:1.

                                                                                             -Keith

[My427stang]

I hope they don't require a re-curve. I went with the Edelbrocks with a bit of porting and 2.19-1.75 exhaust. The compression is now at about 9.9 instead of 11:1.

                                                                                             -Keith

Edelbrocks are not Trick Flow, they like timing, the chamber is pretty old school  In fact, lower compression may actually like 1-2 degrees more, easily done by adding initial