What you say makes a lot of sense when you brake it down step by step. The engine is a fresh complete overhaul. It was in my Hot Boat for a couple of years with a hyd. roller and ran great with an estimated 600 hp. It now has a 296/304 solid roller cam with .714 lift and 10.5:1 comp. ratio. Our pump gas in Cal is only 91. Maybe too much cam for this application. I an running AFR aluminum 335 heads with 112 chamber, Inconel valves, titanium retainers and stud girdles. Everything in the motor is first class. Calleys internally balanced crank, Manley rods, CP pistons and comp cam. New double roller timing set with no slop. I have an Edelbrock dual four intake with 2 600 cfm 1405 carbs that are jetted to hell.
The motor is in a Prostreet Vega Wagon with a build Powerglide, trans brake and 9" spooled Ford rearend. About 2000 lbs. I have about an hour of garage time on the motor now. I just put in the inner valve springs after cam break in.
What didn't make sense is on first install I lined up the dots on the timing set, (straight up) and did a minor check on cam timing. My bad for the short cut. Opened it up again and did a full degreeing process.
Cam card wants 22* BTDC @.050", I have multiple key ways on this timing set. No problem. But this setting shows 4* retard according to the timing set marks. Intake closes at 58* ABDC @.050". Dead on the cam card specs. There is no indication that my cam was ground with an advance in it. Seems like I am missing something. I have built 6 BBC in the last 15 years. All were Hot Boat motors that worked very well. I appreciate the advice.