Engine shakes BADLY!!

I don't usually run stock 318's with less than 10-12* initial timing.

12* on this guys mill is not going to run well at idle and off idle. You'll have stacking issues with a really fat idle to keep it running. Mess up the fuel curve in every single circuit from idle to WOT.

Do a test, if you reach in and twist a SB distributor CCW and it picks up rpm, IT WANTS THE TIMING! That's not picking a number and saying this is where I want it to run. It's about finding the efficiency point at idle. Sometimes the starter is the limiter. Find the point where the starter or dial it in timing allows you to set initial, whichever point is lower. I have a 340 with a 508 hyd right now that is locked out at 36* and it starts OK, POS wouldn't run well with 12* timing if you wished on a lucky star! :). It started off at 8*... A mini starter does wonders to help here as well.

Car sounds great to me the way it is. If it lights off with no kickback issues on the starter, it's fine. I chuckle everytime I go to a show and hear cars cranking for a long time, needing the pedal stabbed/floored to get it to start... that's what low initial timing gets you. :)

People have plenty of ways to do things. If it works for them, OK, I wouldn't do some of the stuff suggested in this thread.

Pick your parts, pay your money!

Here are a couple for the proof side of the equation.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=225756
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=84627