What did my engine builder do wrong???

As you all know I have been fighting cooling issues with my jeep. After installing a high flow fan, nice fan shroud and an aluminum radiator she still warms up at idle. Since the ECj5 rubicon run is getting close I want to get this done. I call my engine builder and tell him whats been going he asks me if I have checked my timing and total adavance.....I have double checked it....5 DBTDC about 30 total. So he says try advancing my timing to 10 DBTDC. So last night I do this and..... 1) she's got more power 2) the exhuast stinks less 3) idle was about 100 rpm higher 4) sitting idling for 10 minutes the temp did'nt keep creeping up...... The only thing I think it could be is he didn't get the timing of the cam and the timing chain right. OR am I missing something? If the exhaust valves were opening too soon and letting very hot buring fuel out into the head....this would mean that those heads were getting mighty warm. What do you all think??? Also how should I handle this with my engine builder???

 

What kind of engine are we talking about here? 8-10* base timing is not uncommon on many engines. Retarding the timing too far will cause the symptoms you describe. Does it have a performance cam in it? Headers? larger flowing intake and carb?All these can affect where your timing needs to be.

 

2nd what nikmil said,

 

Sorry.....this is a 225:v6: It has headers, a comp cam 252, and the stock 2 bbl manifold with a gm TBI unit megasquirted.
So there may not be anything wrong with the engine build at all then.....

 

Doesn't sound like it.

 

Thanks for the feedback Nickmil. I appreciate it.
Ryan