1985 gsl 12a nikki stock

just rebuilt the carb, car started right up but stalled when the choke pulled itself back in. Started it up again and gassed it a bit and it found an idle at 2k

i know my timing is messed up from the previous owner, they advanced it. My idle adjustment screw also needs adjustment as well as the mixture screw. I don’t know where to begin, everything says timing first, but how do i time the engine if I can’t get it to idle?

 

well, it's sort of a catch 22 ...

i would start with the carb and intake. check for any vacuum leaks, then set the idle screws to where the FSM says they should be (close them and open then to the recommended turns out). hopefully between those two steps it will be lower than the 2000 RPM its at now. at that point, put a light on it and see if you can get it closer or the rest of the way. if the timing proves to be way off, then reset the dizzy by lining up the pointer with the yellow mark, then lining up the distributor mark/divot with the marker/tang, then reinstall it.

 

Found the vacuum leak, it was the hose that connects the intake manifold to the anti afterburner valve. Now I got her down to 1k, still some after firing or backfiring, not super bad tho so I think I can fix it with a timing light. Mixture screw is backed out 3 full turns from seat.

 

There is an inspection plate on the intake side of the engine, butts up to the transmission plate with two 10mm bolts. Take that off and there will be a flat side of the flywheel you can see. Rotate the flat side to be on the same side as intake/exhaust then put the dizzy in like Diabolical said