Just installed the MSD distributor on her 88 formula 350
right now we did some base timing settings at various degrees, seemed most responsive at 8 degrees, which is wierd because when her stock one worked, it worked best at 12

i noticed total timing is at 32 by 2400rpms
is that enough? thats all ECM controlled right?
should it be higher

she still feels like the car isn't as responsive as the old distributor. i told her last time she drove the car was when the temps were around 10 degrees outside, so i said you dont have the cold bitter air the engine likes.

i looked at the MSD instructions and there isn't anything internal to them that can be modded. (like advance springs, bushings, etc.)
should i even care about total timing eith EFI and the ECM?
I am not sure if there is an aftermarket chip installed, i sort of suspect it because there were other misc. things done to the car (had 160 stat, air filter, AFPR, air foil, and gutted cat). i do plan to pull the ECM and see if there is one installed to verify as soon as i get a chance

I am new to the SBC as well as EFI

 

I'm guessing you set the timing incorrectly. You HAVE to disconnect the EST wire (it's a tan wire, black stripe) in the engine bay. It has a single weatherpack connector. The connector is over by the AC stuff on the passenger side in the engine bay. It might just be barely sticking out of a wire loom, or very obvious.
Set base timing to 6 degrees with that. Reconnect. Check timing for fun - With no load (i.e. in park, neutral), the timing should be at about 20 degrees at idle, and 40 ish at 3000. At full throttle, you'll see from about 12 at low RPM to 30 ish at 3000.
The computer only adds from the base timing, and if that's set wrong, it's no longer "computer controlled."

 

turned off
i disconnected the wire
tunred on
set the base idle
turned off
recoinnected the wire
turned on, checked timing

I will check to see what it does at idle
i think it went to 31-32 at around 2400 total

i would have thought it went slightly higher

even if i set the base at 14, it only went to 32 total
so i played at various intervals to see what it liked, and 8 seemed to be it

 

Well, fixed her stock distributor and put that in.
set it at 12 degrees at idle
car is way more responsive

i am sending the MSD distributor back.
the car was real weak responsive wise.

her stock one worked great from 6-13 degrees at idle
and went to 36 degrees total timing at 2600 rpms and it seemed to advance quicker too