Interesting thoughts, good topic. Fuel composition too, yes, but I am sure that is the constant in this thread.
If you guys want to larger example use the KTA 6.25SX6.25B
I was always under impression that timing was RPM related.
Yes, in any engine for that matter but as you and many others know the roots on this statement are many, variable. Like its been said the seen change on a 5.9 vs a larger litre mill we have two capacities of instantaneous torque production obviously for purpose to weight duties. I am not sure but are both of these using open chamber crowns? Different speeds of the piston not only at BBDC, ABDC, mid stroke, BTDC & ATDC. Could the different bore sizes be dictating different pressure rises just on size alone, probably, in addition to the stroke length allowing more ingested charge to be heated by compression. In turn, may advance or retard the engine timing in addition to fuel delay time periods which can also be influenced by the surrounding combustion chamber surface temperatures as well as the charge temperature itself further changing heat absorption rates of not just the fuel but the surfaces making the combustion chamber in relation to timing of heat reduction by cooling and heat concentration within the chamber before our fuel ignites once it has reached the burnable state.
I am not sure what this engine is timed at but I know it used to be in a industrial JD engine, a good shot of the crown w/ burn pattern of the articulating piston. That is what is floating around my brain from your guy's conversation, explaining why will be taking a nice set of inputs mounted on engines and just watch the info roll for a fixed time.
Not sure how I would rate variables as far as how crucial each one is, but, what about the crowns in question? VW & etc.