[fordteacherguy]

Rick,

Pulling the "spout" (spark output) plug takes the computer out of the loop for adjusting timing and locks the base timing at whatever the distributor is set at. You can try either way either way of running fixed timing (spout out) or computed timing (spout in) but either way you will have to readjust timing to get close to what you want for your max advance. A good starting point with running the spout plug out is 32-34 degrees total at 3K rpm .Some run better with more total... some like less.

The disadvantage of running fixed timing is...we'll just that, there is no timing "curve" to meet the varying engine needs and you are starting out with a LOT of initial advance that can give a pretty rough idle and hard starting. On a drag car with narrow RPM requirements...big cams..low cyl pressure...not usually a problem if it starts and idles ok. Lots of guys run theirs that way. I typically use the spout and computed timing on vehicles with factory computers, set timing around 14 for starters w/spout out, plug the spout back in...snap throttle and see where total ends up. I run my SSer Stocker like that last 3 years works fine and consistent. My stocker has a programmable computer and I just set the curve how I want with that. My stocker cams like 18-22 initial timing and total varies with weather conditions but 34 is not a bad base.

Good Luck!