[prostreet64]

Have you taken a look at the weights and springs? I don't see how the motor will run at all with an initial timing of 5 deg. ATDC. If the timing is truly 36 deg. BTDC at 3000rpm then you would have 41 deg. of mech. advance. I don't know of any dist. that has that amount of mech. adv. built in. You are right that somewhere around 12 deg. initial plus 20-24 mech. is what most combos shoot for. I am assuming that you have had a timing light on this thing to check the #'s. In theory you need to rotate the dist. to give approx. 12 BTDC at idle and then set up the advance weights to bring in another 20-24 deg. by 3000rpm or earlier.