I'm a little embarrassed to ask a basic timing question, but I guess I've been spoiled by fancy ignition boxes. I've gone back to a bone stock HEI distributor since I've been having so many ignition problems. It will stay this way until I get my parts checked out.

I'm running a xr288hr cam. At idle it likes 32* of timing which I think is strange. Since it turns over real hard when starting I'm planning on backing it down a little, but no more than 5* (I hope). I want to keep it snappy. Then of course my total timing is through the roof. I have an msd spring kit for it, but the stiffest spring still brings in 18* and comes in real late.

I'm not sure what to do. It only seems like I have two options, lock the timing, or run a weak 20* base. I don't want to lock it, since its going to get a lot of street time and it starts real hard.