I've finally got this 331 Hemi in my '36 pickup on the road, doing "test drives". I was playing with the timing, and it seems I have a lot of total advance. Set the timing at 10BTDC at idle with the vac advance unplugged. Timing goes to 16BTDC when vac advance is plugged in. When I rev it up good it shows 50BTDC on my new damper ! I'm used to Chevy's, never seen that much advance. Is this too much? Engine is fresh, has 8.5 Egge pistons and mild PAW cam. Thanks!
50-55 with the vacuum advance plugged in is about right. What you would be more concerned with is total WITHOUT Vacuum advance, as this what will do damge. Hemis have a very efficient chamber, so i would think 32-34 total would be good and shouldn't detonate.
Do you have that vacuum advance hooked to manifold vacuum or venturi vacuum? I am running a small block mopar distributor hooked to venturi vacuum with rochester 3 deuce setup on my 341 Desoto hemi.
I just checked my timing on thrusday and set it to 32 degrees total at 3 grand. I'm going to bump it it up in two degree increments until it feels right (going of the seat of my pants). I have the stock dizzy with a pretronix in it also set the plugs to .45 gap. Good luck man, post some video of it running.