More distributor/advance questions

Initial is more important on a street car than a hopped up race car. You spend most of the time in low rpm ranges, where the initial is a bigger player, especially at idle.

DO NOT concern yourself with vac adv at this point. Plug it off until you get the other items squared away.

The progression you should work through is this:

1. Initial - IMO, the 18-20 range is likely going to be pretty close.
2. Total - shorten up slots use the plate
3. Curve - Springs
4. Vac adv - different can (more/less added), more vac to initiate, etc.

I run stock 318's at low double digit initial timing. No way a XE274 is going to like that timing setting.