Mopar 383 help please

Quote: intial timing is a little less than 10 degrees and my distributor has a limit of 24 factory. Also have a vacuum advance.

Are you saying that the limit of 24 factory is the centifugal therefore giving you a total of 34 with the vacuum advance plugged off. First bump the initial timing up to 12 and you want the centri. to be fully in at around 2200 rpm. Hook your vacuum guage to the manifold like said above. What are the specs on the cam shaft and do you know what the comp ratio is also what tranny you running and if it's an auto what's the converter stall. The ticking could also be a exhaust manifold leak so make sure your bolts are all tight and does the ticking seem to go away when you rev the engine up. Almost forgot, do you have adjustable rockers on this engine or the stamped steel (stock) which aren't adjustable.

With any kind of high numbered eg. 3.55 or 3.91 rear end and that 383 you should be able to "melt" the tires off that swinger, ask me how I know. Once ya got that engine running good I'm going to suggest a 750 vac carb.