What I am trying to unsuccessfully say is this: I start at 15 degrees at idle, rev the engine up to 3000 RPM, and find the dial on the light to show 52 degrees. I adjust the distributor to bring the timing down to 35. Actually I haven't checked where the idle is after adjustment to 35. But, I need to make it clear, the engine will not start once I set the timing at 35. The engine sounds as if it is struggling against itself. I turn the distributor back to 15 degrees at idle and it immediately fires up. It also sounds good at idle.

I think the key here is the fact that I have a hotter cam in the engine than earlier this year. I will plan to recurve the distributor as it has been recommended. That makes the most sense to all of it.