A spark plug is a spark plug, the only difference is the heat range ( the plugs ability to retain or give off excess heat) A hotter heat range will keep the tip of the plug hotter, good for oil burning engines, a cooler plug is better for high compression or lean burn engines, no hot spots in the combustion chamber. Stick with what it came with, you can open up the gap to .045" to .050" for more spark.
Set the timing as high as you can but still have the engine perform as it should. Advanced timing gives better fuel milage, up to a point! Step it up a few degrees at a time and test drive it.
Vacuum advance is not adjustable unless you installed a aftermarket unit. Same thing on it as with the base timing, set it high if adjustable and test drive.
Your main problem will be compression, you don't have enough to really tell when the timing is to high. At 7 or 8 to one compression, you should never hear it ping under a load even with crappy fuel. Ideally you want the timing just below or right at the point of detonation.
Joe
