I have a 383 w/10.4:1 compression, hydraulic roller, Edelbrock heads, 800CFM Edelbrock Carb, Pertronix HEI, etc. Does anyone have thoughts on initial timing, curve and carb setup?

I have a 383 w/10.4:1 compression, hydraulic roller, Edelbrock heads, 800CFM Edelbrock Carb, Pertronix HEI, etc. Does anyone have thoughts on initial timing, curve and carb setup?
have similar 383 stroker /500HP initial timing 12-14 degrees 34-36 total all in by 2500rpm i have Quickfuel SS750 carb so can t help there how much cam do you have? hope yours runs like mine

I'm at 14 initial and 36 mechanical in around 4000 with an additional 10 vacuum. Lift is .510 & .533 with .227 and .234 duration and 11 overlap. It runs fairly well, but mileage sucks.

I'm at 14 initial and 36 mechanical in around 4000 with an additional 10 vacuum. Lift is .510 & .533 with .227 and .234 duration and 11 overlap. It runs fairly well, but mileage sucks.
your carb may be why, its on the big side for your motor. are your spark plugs burning clean or are they black and sooty you can probably jet down some my roller cam is .568/.572 lift .248/.252 duration, and i have 750cfm 501 HP @ 6200rpm i dropped from 74 primary to 72 main jet and from 80 to 78 secondary main jet dont know exactly how edelbrock is set up i m sure they could tell you and might want to get the mech. adv in earlier vacuum adv has no effect at full throttle only light throttle max adv initial +mech.+vac adv can t exceed 50-52

For the best accelleration, you want full advance to be in by 2000 crankshaft rpm. And Chevrolets like 34 to 38 degrees total advance. As the vacuum advance portion of a distributor doesn't work at all under wide open throttle, get yourself a all mechanical advance distributor. Set your initial advance around 12 degrees, then let your mechanical advance do the rest.

plugs are 1 range cooler and clean. I have a wideband AFR guage and it accelerates a little lean. I believe my first step should be ignition. When does your full mechanical come in?

plugs are 1 range cooler and clean. I have a wideband AFR guage and it accelerates a little lean. I believe my first step should be ignition. When does your full mechanical come in?
if the plugs are clean ,you might go one bigger on jetting, my advance is set-up w/MSD dist and MSD multi-spark module 14 degrees initial and 36 degrees mechanical adv all in @ 2500 rpm i also use the vac adv. w/ 10 degrees max at light load it has 0 at full throttle and my motor SCREAMS! and still isn t too hard on fuel at hiway speeds i recomend the Multi-spark you can open up plug gap another .010 and it delivers a huge flame

thanks fishslayer - my life again has direction and the weekend is coming.

thanks fishslayer - my life again has direction and the weekend is coming.
glad i could help,anytime your motor is similar to mine , just less cam different carb , but timing should be dead on for yours too let me know how it runs

I only had springs for 3,000, and was short on time. Initial 12 / 34 @ 3000 / 10 vacuum. Huge difference. The carb is closer now because of it. I will continue to play with it. Thanks very much.

I only had springs for 3,000, and was short on time. Initial 12 / 34 @ 3000 / 10 vacuum. Huge difference. The carb is closer now because of it. I will continue to play with it. Thanks very much.
glad i could help our motors are similar enough i figured it would be big improvement for yours try to get that mech in at 2500 strokers like advance