Hey try this......

keep bumping the timing till you hear it ping then back it off 2 degrees....

I have to disagree with the theory about a longer rod can accept more timing....

The longer the piston dwells at TDC the more chance it has for detonation to occur....

Trick is to run as much timing as you can to get the job done but....the more efficient the engine is you can make the same amount of power with less timing....

You really have to do your own experiments with timing just to see what the engine like or can handle....

Several of my engines I run different size weights on each side of the distributor and 1 light spring....nothing on the other side...depending on traction.

If traction is not a concern I will lock the distrubutor down at full total advance.... ( so it runs the same from turn key till shut down any where from 38-52)