I have a 79 460, and was wondering with all the experience out there, whats the best setting to put my timing at? I had it around 12 degrees. What, if anything, is better? Its stock with edelbrock carb, headers and 3 inch exhaust. Also, with the vac advance, what is the best way of setting it period? when all hooked up and running high rpms what should my timg be? Please help, I need it running top notch for friday night!!!! Thanks!!!!

 

Starting advance with the vac-adv disconnected and plugged should be 8-12 (may even be on the factory sticker in front of the radiator)
4000 rpm with the vac-adv disc and plugged could be 36-38 maybe 40.

As far as the setting with the vac-adv connected... If it pings - retard it. In the mud there is no real need for vac advance as you are either in it to the rugs or idling. On the highway is when vac-adv makes sense and useable power.

I have always set as high as I can get away with w/o pinging and/or knocking during light acceleration, or at any time for that matter.
Pinging is a bad deal for a motor - like a little hammer hitting the top of the piston with every ping...