Need advice for tuning max timing

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Thanks for the replies guys. Jeff - thanks for that article link. This looks like just the information I'm looking for. I've found the area in my software that works with the knock sensor now too, so I'll be off to pick up one of those off the shelf units you mentioned. This will be my little piece of mind when I put my foot into it!

Oldyellar - Thanks for the input. I've heard similar numbers to what you quote on max timing, although I did also hear (from an engineer at Holley who's been helping me) that some big blocks may want up to 42 max and up to a whopping 28 initial. He told me this when I called him to ask why my motor ran so well at 28 initial, and somewhat poorly at the more common 22. From what I've been learning, the amount of timing an engine requires is inversely affected by the efficiency of it's combustion pattern. I have a custom muti-port injection design, so it's possible that my injectors are not in the very best locations, or that maybe my heads simply don't produce combustion efficiency on par with most others. I realize this is not likely though. In either case, my aim is to optimize my spark timing safely, and a knock sensor will help me do that.

Thanks again, and if anyone else has opinions or advice - I welcome it!

Danny