Welcome!
He's got you going on the right path, kinda. Having been where you are now, I'd jump right to 4.10's. Some may say 3.73's but I recommend the 4.10's. In 5th gear you'll still get about 20 (s)miles per gallon on the highway and you get a tad more grunt off the line...
Bumping up the timing is a good move. 12-14 degrees may be all your car needs with the stock heads. Just be sure to listen for any pinging because some cars will detonate quicker with advanced timing than others. Also, pull off the air silencer. It's the snorkel looking thing on the airbox, inside the fender...