What timing is stock on the 87 L98, and how much can i advance before detonation. I think i read on my hood the stock timing is like 6 degrees or something (i am just too cold to go outside now and look).

 

Factory setting is 6° BTDC. How much you can advance the base timing has much to do with your modifications, the fuel you use, the condition of the engine, and the accuracy of the fuel/air ratio. A slightly rich mixture with alcohol additives, clean combustion chanbers, a good cooling system, and functional EGR can allow for more advance. Highly volatile (low octane) fuel tends to detonate more easily, carbon in the chambers, lean mixture and a dead EGR can cause detonation even at the factory setting. My TPI runs at about 10-11° BTDC base timing before the ESC starts to retard.

 

Ok, let's say that my timing is off horribly 4 degrees BTDC. If i advanced it to 9 degrees BTDC and used some 94 octane fuel (i know that this is a stupid post, but i am just sitting here thinking about stuff), how much power would i gain just from playing with the timing??