Which Spark Plug for Timing?
 

When setting the timing, do you use the T1 and L1 (closes to front of car) or T2 and L2 (closes to firewall) spark plugs?

T1 and L1.
The ones closest to your rad.

That's what it looks like the manuals say...BUT, I bought the car from someone a few months ago, and this is the first time checking the timing. Currently the timing is set on the L2 and T2 correctly, however, when I attach the timing light to L1 and T1 the marks are nowhere to be seen?!

Is this even possible? Wouldn't it perform horribly this far off? I raced it a few weeks ago at this timing, and it ran fine, just a little bit slower then the rest.

Another question...if it is indeed this far off and I need seriously adjust the timing, where do I even start? I can't even see the notches when attached to L1 and T1....should I start by advancing the timing or retarding it?

Ifffff I were you, I would line up the timing marks correctly then pull the dizzy and make sure its timing marks are lined up. when reassembled your timing should be pretty close using the L1 and T1 marks.

So I should attach the timing light to T1 and L1 and line the timing marks up with those?

You have two timing marks, if you are in front of your car looking at the engine the one to the right is TDC or 0 degrees. The one to the left is 10 degrees ATDC i believe.
1. Line up the one to the right (TDC) with the timing needle on the front cover.
2. Remove the distributor.
3. line up the dot near the dizzy gear with the dizzy housing mark.
4. Reinstall distributor carfully.
5. Hook up timing light to leading plug.
6. Timing for leading plug should line up with TDC mark on front pully.
Adjust it by turning the entire dizzy.
7. Timing for trailing plug sould line up with ATDC (other) mark on pully.
Adjust it by loosing two screws on trailing vacuum unit and move it in or out.
Don't forget to change timing light from leading to trailing wires.

Awesome, thanks waysrx7!

When I pull the dizzy off, there are 2 holes that are opposite from each other, there is also a little dimple in between these 2 holes, that little dimple is what I use to line up with right?

Correct.

sounds like your wires from the distributor cap is mixed up going to the spark plugs.

Sounds like the pulley is 180° off because it still runs ok. It won't run ok if the dizzy is firing one rotor when it should be firing the other. It will ignite the trailing edge of the rotor on leading, adding little power, and ignite the incoming mixture on trailing, causing serious running problems and can damage stuff.

Sounds like the pulley, but this is a diagnosis over the interbent.

It would make sense if the pulley was 180° off but I didn't think it was possible since I thought they only went on one way?? I could understand if the dizzy gear was 180° off. But then again i'm still a little fuzzy on my own logic so don't take my word on it.

Pulley being off was my 1st thought too. Wackyracer has a thread in the archives with pics that shows how to check/set the e-shaft to tdc, then reinstall the timing pulley in the correct position.

If the dizzy is off 180° it doesn't matter because it spins half speed. It is always correct or 180° off. :)

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/ignition-main-pully-timing-525909/

always learning. good stuff here.

Just checked my junk engine and Jeff20B has got to be right. Pulley has to 180° off otherwise it wouldn't run with his conditions. As soon as I saw the pulley the light bulb went on. haha.