1/4 mile times

Those instructions work perfectly for an 8536 distributor... READ THEM!

Here's the progression for setting timing...

Initial - the amount of advance the engine wants at idle
Total - the total timing that the engine makes most HP. Consists of, initial + mechanical
Curve - how the mechanical advance comes in. Done generally with springs

It's a foundational, walk before you run type deal. You have to get the initial set up before adjusting the distributor to get the desired total. Do one step before proceeding to the next.