Guys,
I saw on another site where a guy that I know and trust to be correct says it is very hazardous to set your timing beyond 15-1/2* if you have stock head gasket setup. He said it is a very good chance you stand to blow a stock head gasket beyond about 15-1/2* . What do ya'll know about this ?

 

Well, it is a fact that cylinder pressures rise the higher you set timing over stock but it also depends a lot on how you drive the truck and what mods you add with that timing advancement. Lots of guys run 15-17* and have no issues, plus their fuel mileage went considerably up.
I ran about 15.5* for over 2 years(50K miles)with no problems and I know others in the 16-17* range that are still running strong with the stock HG. Mine blew recently but I don't put the blame on timing at all, just age and my driving it like I stole it everyday since the bomb bug hit @ 100K miles.

Joe

 

mine blew with 86,000 on the truck and 16* timing. it has a fuel plate an gov springs but has only been bombed since ive had it 78,000. so i dont know, but the gasket material seemed kinda deteriated when it came off. so i think age plays a role.

 

my head gasket went at 550 or so rwhp and 20 degrees of timing. but i think it was just old age also. the gasket had deteriorated to all but nothing where it was leaking water. it still ran fine. o yea the truck had 268k on it and had been over 400 rwhp for 70k miles.

 

Ive Got 27* And The Stock Head Gasket And 175,000 Miles....but...timing Has Only Been There For 10,000