[fiveohpatrol]

advancing the timing IS one of the fundamentals 5cu11y (as well as the other things you listed)
the key is to get the timing at the optimal point, it could be at 12, but it also may be at 14 or 16, you can't know until you try it

Coupe5oh, unless that chip is dyno-tuned, which im guessing its not, then I'd sell it to someone who thinks that it might actually help them, then advance your timing the old fashion way