1996 12v timing question
 

What do you guys think about trying to achieve 450hp+ with stock timing?

just did it, depends what else your doing to the truck. I'm looking at somewhere around 500 right now with stock timing on a 180 horse truck. Dyno in spring. Then dyno after timing and some head work.

So what exactly does timming do? And how much does it help? I heard people were saying you can blow head gasket with stock studs?

Timing adds cylinder pressure, helps spool, builds more boost and creates more load. Better mpg. Too much can make it harder to start when it's really cold depending where you live. I run over 20 and I live in im Canada where It gets to -30 or colder and it starts fine if plugged in or I don't leave it for more than 6 hours not plugged in. Yes it puts strain on head studs. Short story but it won't just blow your head off first time you drive with over 16 degrees. Myn held it for a long time with over 20 and the he351 which is a drive pressure monster. Best suggestion. Get studs, and head work then make plans. your head gasket will go regardless unless you leave it mostly stock. There's no way around it, its best to just take care of that, get some good valve springs then start adding fuel and air. That's what I've been doing and it works great. Unless your my buddy with the 500 horse on stock timing, but he has money to burn and we just like adding parts to a stock truck to see what it will do before we put the studs in.

I have arp 2000 (12mm) studs and a high performance layered gasket with 60lb valve springs.

Then your fine to crank it up. 18 is a good start unless you want it a bit more wild. There are performance gains to be had with timing. Just moves the powerband up in the rpm as you get more extreme. I remember reading a diesel power mag where they turned the timing up from 22 to 28 on their project triple threat and it gained like 60whp.