Does the new vacuum can have an adjustable advance?
C9,

No, it does not, but it's cheap, and the performance guys at Sallee Chevrolet have tested it pretty thoroughly. If that doesn't work, I may get a Crane Adjustable.

Right now, I just want to get the dang car painted, wired and on the road.

I hate bodywork . . .

Oh, and you're right. When you've got a 2400 lb car with a fairly radical big block, the difference between 400 and 450 hp is pretty hard to feel - particularly on street tires.

Denny,

I used to take my mechanical distributors to a guy like you, and tell him to "make it run with this combination." I gave him ALL of the car specs from engine setup to weight to gearing, etc. I didn't have to experiment too much because Charley Sussman at Charley's Speed and Machine in Blair, NE set 'em up right every time. Old Charley's passed, but he was a hell of a hot rodder.