Check the timing at idle. this is your "initial timing" with a very mild or stock cam i think 12-16* is a good base line.
while you are timing have another person in the car (in park gear) rev the engine gradually until you see the timing stop climbing. this should be in the 33-36* range. this is your Total timing"
Now do that same process again and with the timing light going have your assistant very gradually rev the engine while you pay very close attention to when the timing STOPS advancing and reaches your totol timing #. When you reach that point have your assistant note the RPM at which the timing stopped advancing this is your "timing all in" point.
so when somebody says. 16* initial, 34* total and all in by 2500rpm. they are saying:
I have 16* timing at idle, 34* total timing that is fully advanced at 2500 rpm.
your distributor has a mechanical advance mechanism built into it. your timing will advance farther with engine rpm. you can fine tune "timing curve" by setting how much timing you have at idle, how fast the distributor advances the timing in comparison to engine RPM and how much total timing the distributor provides.
If you perform these steps and get us the #'s it will help us help you. so get the initial (idle timing), the total timing ( timing at higher engine RPM) then let us know when your timing is "all in" (what RPM the timing stops advancing)
Not all 383's are dogs. in fact they built the foundation that the mopar street cred. was built on back in the muscle car days. I have a 383 in my dart and it is not a dog!
https://youtu.be/DKWDPngenqE
