Great info guys!
Yes, I've visited the Wallace Racing calculator website a number of times.
There has GOT TO be a good bit of untapped potential in the Pertronix distributor, it may even be working against the best output with the way it's setup (by the shop that installed the rebuilt engine) and I'm embarrassed to say that the engine was installed over 2 years ago, and I have YET to examine the distributor setup other than to disconnect the vacuum advance, set initial, then total timing without the vacuum advance. I remember the shop said they "couldn't get it to run right" with the vacuum advance hooked up, and the guy who modded the Rochesters suggested that I disconnect the vacuum advance at the track and just set total timing. Well I didn't listen, and I set mechanical advance to 33° thinking, assuming (probably correctly) that at wide open throttle the vacuum is at/near zero, so I'd be running around the 33° he suggested at wide open throttle even leaving the vacuum advance connected, which I did leave connected. I didn't get ANY pinging, but on the ride there and back, with vacuum present, the engine felt like it was stuttering and surging in the background of its normal sensations that it puts out. So I KNOW something is "off" and that's where I'm going to look first, and frankly I should have a long time ago.
As far as the Roadrunner goes, I'm going to see what happens with all the new suspension and traction aids, and then go from there.
Even though my dad's 389 Tripower was 11:1 stock, and maybe gained a quarter point of compression with the Bobcat head gaskets, unless the timing on the 421 is way off in how it affects the engine output, the 421 at 10.1:1 should still be putting out more power than the 389.
I'll figure it out....
After all, I have the TREMENDOUS SUPPORT of my forum family, and thanks SO MUCH to all of you for that!
Here is the 2nd run I did that night. This one dropped from 103 mph to 102, but I also went 13.58 this run instead of 13.61
A little wheelspin in first gear, but not bad in my opinion, and I wish I would have stayed in the gas in first instead of a fraction of a lift for a fraction of a second.