[Tyson Schmidt]

Actually to retard the cams you want to be at the lower end of the range, so 2.7mm at overlap. So the intake valve stays open later.

And to be safe, running it with the T cams, I would set your timing at 0 TDC at idle, which should be around 30 BTDC at 6000 to start out with.

Years ago, (Like 30) I built a 2.4T with 2.2T pistons, which was about 9/1 CR. It ran great, but if you gave it too much throttle at too low an rpm, it knocked like hell. That was with stock 2.4T ignition timing. Might have been fine with 2.2T timing.

Your CR is even higher, so definitely run the equivalent of US 93 octane. And ideally, get those cams reground to E.