Reply to "Total advance, please chime in"

28 degrees is not enough unless you are concerned about low quality fuel and pre ignition detonation problems. 32 to 36 degrees is a safe setting. On my original Cleveland block engine with aluminum heads I limited the total timing to 36 degrees and that was checked and set up with a good timing light. The engine also had a Romac harmonic balancer, so the timing indicator marks were correct. My current aluminum block Fontana/Cleveland engine total timing is set as high as 42 degrees. I can do this because the engine is fuel injected and that 42 degree setting is only at lower engine loads and steady cruise conditions. At higher loads and higher rpm it can be anywhere from 28 degrees to 36 degrees.