anyone have a rough idea on base timing for standard crossflow with 32/36 weber? had a horrible day at a hillclimb today thing was pinging all day  

Not sure about timing, but I was playing with a weber 32/36 on a cortina with a 1600 in it, do you happen to know the jet sizes to get it to run well? Also do you need to have the fuel return connected up or will blocked off do...
 
Cheers,
 
Rob

Assuming the carby is about right if you set up the timing for about 12 deg initial and 34 deg total all in by 3500 rpm that should work on just about anything. Most older engines have very little initial timing with very quick initial advance curves topping out at about 25ish degrees total.

Have a look at the plugs, if the ceramic is perfectly clean or peppered you're probably lean. If the ground strap has a colour change at the "knee" or towards the end then its not enough fuel.

the entire plug is covered in a light brown deposit (which i assume is crap fuel) when you wipe it away they are like new. does this indicate anything to you?
thanks

Photos help a lot

With no lead fuel, the colour of spark plugs is no longer an indication of how an engine is running....