Locked or mechanical advance

[Dirtvet]

I just got the new HEI in the mail today to replace the old point style distributor. Its going into my mostly stock 454 BBC, top RPM @4500. and I'm looking for some advice on the advance. The new distributor came with the advanced locked out, but there is a kit to put in a mechanical advance. I'm not sure if the old points style has a mechanical, but the vacume advance is pluged. I did a search of the forums on this and I am thinking that the mechanical advance with some light spring would be the way to go, but I was hoping to get a little more advice on it.
Thanks for any input on the matter.
-Dirtvet

[XClutchboy725]

I would run the mechanical advance. The motor is going to start much easier with some sort of advance distributor. You don't need as much advance as a car, but 10-15 degress or so helps.