Probably not a popular opinion......BUT, if your motor won't run without what is considered extremely large amounts of spark lead, something in the combo is grossly inefficient.

Don't care whos motor made what, with how much timing. When there are motors with good heads and the right cam profile that make best power at around 30*......if yours needs 40*, it's NOT an efficient motor. If you have an inherently inefficient head design, there ARE cam profiles to help it.

And NO, timing is not just a number. It's a relative gauge of the engines efficiency.

In the OPs case......he has a 60s or 70s at best camshaft profile, with a modern head. Of course it's not an ideal combo