I have a 67 Chevelle but the engine is a 72 LT-1 350 small block. The engine has a healthy cam along with roller rockers. My dumb question is on setting the timing. I need to know what the proper setting would be? I've got it set on 8 degrees before TDC and it runs OK but I'm not sure where it needs to be set to run at peak performance. Any help would be appreciated!

Set it anywhere from 10 to 16 initial, but make sure you limit the total to around 34 to 36. These numbers may vary by a few degrees for optimum performance due to many factors including tolerances. But this is a good range to start in.

If you just want a "quickie" adjustment, without going into the details of the timing curve, try 14 degrees initial, then test drive it to see if it detonates. If it doesn't, leave it there then study up on setting up the mechanical advance curve. If it does, back it off two degrees and test drive it again.

You may even advance it further than 14, in 2 degree increments, until you hear a little knock, then back it off to the previous setting.

That's how we did it in the old days (when we knew nothing about setting up a timing curve).

OK, thanks for the reply. I'll advance it some more and see how she runs. I do need to study up on these timing advance curves I hear about. This is my first old fashioned hot rod. I'm used to the computer doing all this stuff so it's new to me!