[rdorman]

Do check with the builder. Depends on many things. You will probably find the total should be in the range mentioned, 32-34. Maybe as low as 30 but doubtful as high as 36 with a modern alloy head. My lazy old open chamber iron cleveland heads likes bunches! Initial, probably in the 16-20 range. If you bring it back to 8, it will be a slug by comparison off the line and you have to open the plates more which MAY aggrevate the stumble. Get the timing right, adjust the carb and go from there. Many a builder does not take the time to recurve the distributor. So, they set it for total timing, max power and don't worry about the initial. If is starts and idles, fine. They are looking for max power. But, that does not work so well for drivability. I tend to run as much initial as I can. So long as it will start when hot (and heat soaked for a few minutes) and does not rattle, it is good. I crank it in until I can't get it to turn over and back it off two degrees and that is where I leave the initial. Have it curved for total and forget about it. I chased that darned off idle issue until I was blue in the face and it was all about the timing and the effect the timing has on the carb. Happy tuning!