Well, took the new motor for it's first passes down the 1/4 mile tonight. Could have been better. First pass half track to check plugs for timing. Threw the fan belt... Great 60' for what I'm accustomed to at 1.71s. Checked plugs but not very experienced at reading them... ground strap was clean to about 1/16th" to the base and insulator was white with a couple specs at 32*. Dialed down to 30* second pass and went the whole 1/4 mile... threw the (new/spare) fan belt again! Now for plugs, ground strap clean and baked a little white all the way down to the base and insulator white everywhere with no specs/marks...

Belt setup: Single V-belt crank to water pump (no mechanical fan) to alternator installed tight. From the eyeball all looks to be in the same plane. Never threw a belt before but also never went above 6000rpm. I'm thinking maybe larger alternator pulley might help(?) Any other suggestions?

As for the motor: 439 BBC (427++) 10.6:1 SCR, 8.6:1 DCR with solid roller .630/.630 245/255@.050 aluminum heads at high altitude on 91 octane pump gas.

I was thinking I would be able to run full timing (at least 34-36*) on 91 pump gas but unless I'm reading the plugs wrong, I can't go over 32*?

Anyway. any insights or suggestions are much appreciated...

By the way, ran 12.44 @ 110 in the 1/4 very conservatively... I think it will drop into 11's easily enough (I've got well over 1000rpm to work with) but I might have to resort to 100 octane(?)

Thanks,

Chris