What happens when a car's timing is advanced WAY too much? Will it climb the revs imediatly upon startup? Or just idle a little different?

 

if this has anything to do with your CTR piston issue... I would consider this...
if you are increasing compression, the timing you actually get at 16-18BTDC is based on the flame kernel and how the combustion is shaped. I submit to you that at 14BTDC your motor's burn rate probably creates the same rod angle at 13-14BTDC for power that a 10-11:1 motor makes at 16-18BTDC... just a thought...

where are your current settings? and a motor with advanced timing will create a high *** idle and a surge at startup.

 

I have no clue what the current setting is.

I think it's timing. I just wanted to know if advanced timing would make the motor rev and surge like that.

I'm going to use a timing gun to retard the hell out of it tomorrow and see if it helps.

And what should I really be trying to set the timing at?

 

I would make a note where it currently is. If you dont have a gun, dont attempt this. I dont doubt that you do but you never know with the people on this site.
Be sure:
bridge the connector
warm up the car
make sure the throttle cable isnt too tight
disconnect the IACV, stabilize the idle
let the cooling fan cycle twice

check the timing and make a note. the PCT dome displacement is actually larger than in the c-speed calculator. SgT has maintained that the CTRs in the GSR block/head/HG is closer to 12-12.5:1. Because of this... I wouldnt go past 14BTDC
unless I had a 255lph fuel pump and about 3-5PSI more fuel pressure at WOT.

there is a great article on team integra.net about timing advance and how a motor creates timing from it. I would estimate your rod angle that a stock motor makes at 18BTDC for power would be the about the same if you lit the mixture 4 degrees earlier on a motor with your compression... 14BTDC isnt retard-ed in your case at all... it doesnt need alot of timing advance because of the cylinder pressures being so drastic