"hopefully I can run locked out timing"
Wrong answer.
That's great for an industrial engine that runs a steady speed any and all times it's running/
Something like a generator or a irrigation pump, etc....
But for a cruiser car that is the last thing you want. Because an engine like that runs a range of rpms and depends on where you are in that range at any given time, the timing you want changes with load and rpm....
I saw Edelbrock carb, not injection in your list. Only other time locked timing works is when it's controlled by a computer.
I had the timing locked on my 408 stroker with a Holley carb and the car ran and performed great, so I am going to have to disagree. I would see the only downside as possibly losing a few mpg when vacuum advance would kick in on a standard vacuum style distributor, or the potential hard start issue. I would prefer locked out timing, as in my eyes its one less thing to worry about, and I don't need to tune a "curve" in a distributor- the timing for performance is always there.
