Im running 21* of timing!
 

I orignally set my timing to 19* on the stock balencer and had no pinging so i assumed the outer ring if the balencer had slipped and i was in reality only running like 16 or so but last night i installed a fluidamper that is solid (no inner or outer ring)and rechecked my timing Its 21*!when i plug in the spout connector adn rev it it hits 40* or so!So heres the questions 1:why will my car tolerate 21* of base timing ping free? 2:would i benifit from turning it down to like 18* and if so why? I have a five speed computer and msd 6al box with a mallory coil if that makes any differance.Well like always any feedback is greatly appreciated. Im really confused.

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91GT Flowmaster 2 chambers,off road H pipe,mac equalength headers,F303 cam,high lift valve springs ,svo 1.6 roller rockers,19*timing,410's,BBK cold air kit,hurst shifter, Pullys,World class T5 MSD 6al box. Ran 13.5@101 with stock headers and air box.

The timing chain may have sliped.....

Its a auto zone double roller and i had the timing chain cover off when i installed the balancer.I did notice quite a bit of slack in the chain,i would say the chain had 3/8ths of an inch of side to side movement. How much is acceptable?(it wasnt extremly tight when i put it in 3 months ago)

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91GT Flowmaster 2 chambers,off road H pipe,mac equalength headers,F303 cam,high lift valve springs ,svo 1.6 roller rockers,19*timing,410's,BBK cold air kit,hurst shifter, Pullys,World class T5 MSD 6al box. Ran 13.5@101 with stock headers and air box.

Even if you can advance it further, there's a point where it actually starts costing you power. You want to advance it to the point where it's igniting the mixture in the combustion chamber just prior to the piston beginning it's downward stroke. If you keep adavancing the timing past this point the combustion actually begins to slow the piston on the compression stroke. I can advance mine past 16* without pinging, but 16* is where it performs the best.
3/8" of slack in the chain seems like a lot. I don't remember having much slack at all when I put my cam in a few months ago.

Im running 17 deg and that gave me 18 more rear wheel hp on the dyno!!

What are the signs beside knocking that this could be harmful to my engine?

Tom