The point being;
IMO,
if you get the AFR dialed in closer, you won't need a lot of timing.
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I don't know about big blocks,
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BTW; I don't have an AFR gauge, so I have to pay more attention to what the engine is telling me.
Bigger cam, more idle timing. If it's big enough you will have start problems unless you crutch it with a retard, or separate ignition and starter switches to get it spinning.
Or a mechanical jury-rig like mine (10.3:1 451, [email protected]): One superlight spring, one heavy spring with loop, 22 crank degree rotor plate. This allows cranking at 16, goes to 27 as soon as it starts (idle at 1200), then a long slow curve up to 38 (less the box retard with rpm). I also run vacuum advance for street driving, otherwise I'd have it go straight to 36 or so. I may need a spring with a slightly longer loop so it'll idle at 28-30. Currently it may not be optimal but it doesn't ping on the "premium" swill of today.
AJ, I would pay for your trip down here just to see you try to get my combo to idle at 5 degrees :poke: