Just got my car back on the road after 2 yrs but I don't remember what the base timing should be set at. The car runs o.k. but I have the base timing set at 14 degrees. Seems like the car is low on power for what it is. Running a built 305 10.5 comp with ported heads and 520 lift 296 duration cam with a stock maf tpi setup. What should the base timing be set at or am I good with it set at 14 degrees? Thanks

 

oem base timing is usually set at 6 * btdc

 

You need more base timing than 6* for that cam. According to Barry Grant,

10-12* for a camshaft with less than 220 degrees @ .050"
14-16* for a camshaft with less than 240 degrees @ .050"
18-20* for a camshaft with less than 260 degrees @ .050"

However when you advance the base timing, you're also advancing the total timing. If an engine runs best with 34* total timing and you bump up the base timing an additional 10*, your total timing moves to 44* and you lose power. The mechanical advance then needs 10* taken out of it to bring the total timing back to 34*.

Leave you base timing at 14* and see what your total timing is at. For best performance, timing should be at full advance by 3000 rpm.