Nobodys feelings are going to be hurt because you like the DPS pump. My comments stand on what has been posted in the Hall of Shame bout that shop and what comes out of there. Many years ago I worked with Ken designing the first H13 stud kits for the 7.3 idi engine. I installed the first or second set made and they were spectacular in the job they did and the appearance. They looked like surgical stainless steel. The H13 material stud had a breaking strenght of... 270,000 psi...
When my engine lost a freeze plug and melted down pulling a grade I tried reusing those studs in the next build. Found a broken one laying in the driveway and another resting on the motor mount...
Drove up to ARP with those and some that were not broken asking them wth but ended up buying a set of theres and never looked back. ARP studs at that time were 200,000 or 220,000 psi. Can't recall now. You seem to be attempting to do what feels right to you. Taking the information given here is mostly based on hands on practical experiance from years of collective work done on these engines. Typ4s idea is the least item you can do that will give you the most information and cost you nothing. I concur with that. But changing the timing to increase the boost I can't concur with. Increasing the fuel will give you more boost. If what I'm posting is suspect please do this. Follow your idea of changing the timing but... Make a center punch mark in the cover to pump joint. See what happens. then move it back or just increase the fuel. Report back what works. My ego is not at risk here. I don't need to see a post telling me I was right. I'm just interested in getting you the results you feel you want. What you want is not out of the question with what you have built either.