octane/HP rumors?

[1969Mach1]

Ok I'm going to be a post ***** and skip abit of that conversation, I read what you wrote Chris and I think you explained that to me awhile back and I completly understand and not going agaist you cause I don't know the difference between my a*s and a hole in the ground when it compares to you. But I'm having a Mallory Distributor put in my car (351-4bbl), what should I set the timing too? More the less curious what exactly the timing does to the car, I'm hoping to get my car dyno'd so I want to set it to something reasonably good. Like is it unstable if I put my timing to something in mid 20's or just keep it at 16? And what would determine what I set it too? Like what part done to the engine.
This is the distributor I am having put in.
Mallory Distributor

I'm also having a MSD Ignition put in with it, and intake and new Holley 650 DP DF Carb too but I'm not sure if that matters.

Thanks,
sorry again if it was already asked I'm just alittle slow....

§am.