Symptoms of an Intake Leak?

KnuckleDuster said
Initial timing set at 1000rpm with vacuum guage, it actually wants more. Idle and vacuum increase up to 30°
Comp XE285HL cam

I guess you might be in the ballpark with your timing, that cam has a lot of duration. I don't know, maybe set it at 18 and see if there is a difference.

Running vacuum advance? You did set the timing with it plugged, right?