got a timing card ? I would look at the specs and then maybe advance the cam by 4 degrees, this will give some more low rpm torque.

looking at your max vac, you should get at least 20. And set at 17 is borderline with late ignition timimg. I would shoot for 18 to 18.5. And if you dont get any ping leave it at that.

This guage you are using is it a normal vacume vacume guage or a compound meter ?