Well I finally got my little 383 together and in the car. I have had it out for 2 test and tunes and it seems to like 30* of timing. The first test and tune I had it on 34* and it MPH around 120, good but I was expecting better. I had to pull the distributor to re-prime the oil after the check valve failed (external oiling), and didn’t check the timing before heading out to the 2nd test and tune. Once at the track, it picked up 3 mph, now provided it was a near perfect day 60 degrees 35% humidity, and I had jetted it up from the first session. After the 3rd pass I decided to pull some more timing because the plugs seem to indicate it still had too much, set it at 28* it slowed down. Went back to 30* for the last pass and it was back to 10.85 at 123ish. I know the Edelbrock head is a much better head than my 906 but I was not expecting 10* difference as my 906’s liked right at 40*.

I was also curious if a different octane gas would be a factor . I normally run 90 pure gas but the station I get it from changed hands and now it is only 87. I am only at 9.5 static compression, 7.95 dynamic , since I am having to run a .066 gasket because of the being .007 out of the hole and aluminum rods.