[A Snake]

Tommy,

That's both a simple question and a complicated one. First, if you can hear detonation, you're way past the point of damage. Detonation, also known as pre ignition, is simply the fuel/air mixture igniting before the piston reaches TDC.

Several things, including timing, effect when and if this will occur. All of the following, in combination, effect detonation. Compression ratio, camshaft profile and timing,distributor advance curve, fuel/air mixture ratio,(influenced by size of carb to cu. inch displacement and rpm range) Last but not least type of fuel and octane rating. Add to the mix weight of car and rear axle ratio. (light car low gears allow a little more freedom to advance timing)

Old rule with octane: Higher the compression, the higher the octane. Higher compression needs slower burning fuel.

Now with all of this in mind and since I don't know your engine specs, I'd suggest calling the manufacturer of the camshaft. Give them every detail I've just listed and get their recommendation. Tommy, timing is not a random chance thing. Wrecking an engine will be the result. No, it may not blow up in your face, but one of two things will happen. The first you already know about..Detonation. It will crack pistons, break ring lands and if it's bad enough, melt the tops of the pistons. Second, if you're under timed, your engine will obviously not perform up to its full potential.

You might also contact Edlebrock, since you have one of their manifolds. Again, give them every bit of information I've listed.

By the way, as your engine will continue to break in for up to 5,000 miles or more, be aware that it will continue to seal tighter and that means compression will continue to come up. Timing cam be fairly aggressive on a fresh motor after break in and still live. Later that same timing can be in the detonation range.

Remember, detonation occurs long before you hear it.