Am I really reading this correctly?

[Gixx]

Yeah, vacuum leaks will kill you, too. Biggest improvement will probably be the timing. You can usually go 5-10 degrees advanced past whatever the "stock" recommended timing is supposed to be. Just listen for "pinging" or "rattle" and back it off (retard it) if you get any pinging. A couple of degrees makes a pretty big difference.

As stated earlier, you might check the heat riser and make sure it isn't stuck shut. It is located in the passenger side "down pipe" and has a spring loaded and weighted flapper that opens when the exhaust gets warmed up. It is supposed to be closed when cold which helps it run better when the engine is cold. I have removed mine and have noticed no ill effects. I live in Colorado and often start mine in near zero weather.