I'm in Colorado and one of the key things to do with any engine is to advance the ignition timing because of our thin air, for that matter it's a good performance trick wherever you live.

I have a '96 F-250 with a 460 power plant and I had been considering buying a chip for a more agressive advance curve. But I've got to ask, is there any reason I can't dial in additional static advance by simply rotating the distributor the degrees I want to add? My understanding is that the EEC computer will tell the ignition system how much ADDITIONAL advance to dial in depending on RPMs and other factors, and that curve obviously won't be changed, bout it would be in addition to whatever static advance I've dialed into the distributor.

Is that how it all works?

How does the 460 truck engine respond to changes in ignition timing?
Run it up to almost the ping point and leave it?
All of my hi-po wrenching experience was in the stome age of the 70s when I owned an all-out 69 Chevelle 396 and I'm trying to get up to speed on the newer stuff- never had any Ford big-block experience.

Thanks for any ideas. I'm trying to learn all I can.

 

As long as you don't deviate between high octane and low octange fuel, I'd advance my timing up to the point where it pings and back of a degree or two. I've done that with my Mustang.

It goes without saying that the engine should be running on your fuel of choice when you're adjusting your timing. I wouldn't set the timing with premium in it then run it with regular. I don't think a tank or two would hurt it occasionally, but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis.