9184 T/A 305 vi8. Can someone tell me what the increments are on the timing marker. I can see 0 but what are the next degrees 2, 4, 6 ?? It is very difficult these increments with the timing light and the marker is rusty. I used a long artist's brush with wd40 to make the 0 clear enough to see.

 

I think they are 2-degree increments, but if you use a dial-back timing light, all you need is the zero mark...

 

2 degrees each.

But who cares? You're going to set the "timing" to where the engine runs the best REGARDLESS of "mark" and "light"; and then maybe, use "mark" and "light" to note where that is, so that if some moron comes along behind you that thinks some "spec" is going to make the engine run better than ... wherever it runs the best, you can put it back where you found that it runs the best. I.e. UNDO whatever putz-puller did that screwed up your carefully researched and located CORRECT setting.

Who cares what "number" shows up with "mark" and "light"? How do YOU think YOU know better than THE ENGINE does, where it will run the best? How do you know any of that CRAP is even RIGHT? You're smarter than that. LISTEN to the engine, and give it what IT WANTS, not some random number plucked out from between somebody's cheeks.

 

I think I have it set at about 6-7 degrees and that is where it seems to run best. The '72 Buick that I owned, on #1 gas, was set at 7-8 degrees & that is where it run best, just before pinging.

 

I'd try 12° initial. It has a knock sensor (your Buick didn't) so it shouldn't "ping".
You can always put it back to 6° if it doesn't like it, but I'm betting it will like it...

 

There is no comparison between a Small Block Buick and a Small Block Chevrolet Engine, in terms of Chamber Design and Initial Ignition Timing.

You would be better off taking a recommendation from the people here on your SBC.
Using the SBB Engine as a reference is just not ideal.

 

Honestly, if your 1972 Gran Sport is a Buick 350 Car...
Those Cylinder-Heads will spank (superior design Intake and Chamber) the SBC Heads on a Third-Gen.

It took Chevrolet till 1996 to release a Head as good as a 350 Buick Head.

 

The Buick engines were greatly engineered. I use the Buick engine as a reference only as an example. They produced great torque.
Anyhow, in 1970, I ordered a Malibu, L48, th350, posi. This 300 hp engine took no back seats. It was fast. Never raced it officially, but did smoke a few cars.
I really like this Trans AM. The QB is so bad, I am sending it to a professional performance rebuilder who had rebuilt the QJ on my Buick years ago.

 

In my 1986 305 tpi:

The big arrow/triangle, toward to firewall is "0" degree
In the middle way on this arrow, toward radiator and passenger side, is "-2"
This arrow, but to radiator, is "-4"
Next normal size arrow to firewall is "-6" TDC

Then, the inmediate arrow, next to "0" degree, is the "-6", in direction to firewall/passenger side