408 ignition curver advice

I decided to cheap out with my current distributor and welded the governor slots in the distributor instead. lol I filed them to achieve only 5 at the distributor which is 10 at the crank and it worked out really good. I said cheaped out, but the FBO plate doesn't go down that far, so I really had no choice. Slant sixes don't like much more than 30-32 total and mine likes about 20-22 initial without the vacuum can attached, so I had to weld the slots. It really surprised me that it still ran fine with the vacuum can on manifold vacuum at about 40 initial. In fact, ir cleaned up the idle a little more than it was. Of course, all that extra drops out on acceleration.
I have the original distributor that came with my car, which I had welded up the slots to limit the advance before the engine rebuild to a stroker, though I don't remember what that number was. I may end up revisiting that setup before all is said and done. I believe that one has a vacuum can, if memory serves me.
Learning lots as I go!