[olddog]

Great write up and thanks for taking the time.

I disagree with one thing stated, and I have heard others state the same thing as well. I disagree that the engine can run more timing because the car is lighter. At WOT, the timing needs to be correct for the engine to make maximum power. On a given engine, the biggest factor affecting where the timing should be is air fuel ratio. It may be true you can run more timing on a lighter car without pinging, but the car weight does not change what timing is needed to produce the most power.

If it were true that the engine needed more timing in a lighter car to make the most power then the timing should be set higher in first gear than it is in second gear. Each gear the timing should be reduced as you shift.