nitrous retard

[5pointohboy!]

Generally speaking, you want to set your timing by the total advance method. You want to know what the motor is dealing with. Most of the time, 34-36 degrees total is the norm, if you are running good quality fuel. If this puts your base timing at 5, 10 or even 20, so what (as long as the starter can handle it...) If it won't crank, then you need to play with weights, and springs in the distributor, or look into having the ECU re-curved. On street driven, pump gas stuff, total timing in the 28-32 degrees is more acceptable. The total timing is what is going to save (or destroy) your motor.