OUCH!!! 54 DEG. TOTAL ADVANCE IS WAY TOO MUCH. DEPENDING ON YOUR MOTOR BEING STOCK OR BUILT YOU CAN RUN BETWEEN 28-36 DEG. TOTAL ADVANCE. I HAVE A SLIGHTLY BUILT 454 AND MY ENGINE BUILDER SAID TO RUN IT AT 32-34 TOTAL ADVANCE. JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR ENGINE LIKES, BUT 54 IS WAY TO MUCH. IS YOUR CAM ADVANCED? IF YOU HAVE A DIAL TIMMING LIGHT YOU SET THE DIAL AT THE TOTAL ADVANCE YOU WANT TO RUN LEAVE VACUM HOSE ON DIST. TO CARB, RUN ENGINE TO 3000RPM AND YOUR TIMMING MARK ON DAMPENER AND TAB WILL ZERO OUT AT YOUR DESIRED TOTAL ADVANCE THAT YOU SET ON TIMMING LIGHT. THATS THE EASY WAY TO DO IT. GOOD LUCK. DANO