Thanks guys.
From the consensus it sounds as though that setting timing with todays higher octane fuel is not as "cookbook" as adjusting to the manual specifications. So it looks like I will hunt for a advanced timing position that is a happy median between highest stable vacuum, presence of pinging, and difficulty in starting. I thought I read somewhere on here that too much advance timing can be harmful to the valves...is this true?
Dave, my gut reaction was to pull a piece of xerox paper through the points to knock the oxidation off of the contact portion similar as with voltage regulator points. Somewhere in my gray matter I recall that copy paper is equivalent to approximately 1000 grit sandpaper. The presence of contact point files sort of had me second guessing. Thanks for the intel.
Paul
