[ihc] Re; Yes, Me Again! Carb Question

["Allan W." <allanw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael,
  When you did the static timing setting, are you sure that you lined
the dist with #8 when it was on the _COMPRESSION_ stroke?
As in, intake valve closed, exhaust valve closed, piston at the top?
If set right, you should be able to rotate the engine from TDC
and the exhaust should start opening just as the piston gets to the
bottom of the stroke.  The intake should stay closed.  Remember
it takes two turns of the engine to run an individual cylinder through
all 4 phases (Intake, compression, power, exhaust, IIRC).

  It sounds like it is firing back through the carb, like if you are
firing the spark when the intake valves are open.  Perhaps
the distributor is "180 degrees out".  Though I can't hardly
believe it runs at all if it is.  This means the spark is happening
between the exhaust and intake stroke and it would make sense
why retarding it (making it later) would make it run better--in
so doing you move it closer to where it should be happening,
between the compression and power cycle.

Good Luck,
Allan W.