While trying to set the timing on my 79 12a, I notice that I cannot get the Trailing Timing to retard past the Leading Timing mark(cant get it anywhere near the red mark on the crank pulley). With the timing light on the T1 plug, the timing is really really advanced (clockwise of the leading yellow mark on the crank pulley). No amount of moving the vacuum adjuster will bring it back past the yellow mark. I noticed with the L1 and T1 plug wires reversed on the distributor, I can line the L1 plug up with the yellow mark, and the T1 plug up with the red mark, but with all the wires on the correct positions on the distributor, Im only able to line up the L1 with the yellow mark. All timing was done with car at 1000RPM, no vacuum advance connected, no vacuum leaks.

Some history of the car:
'79 rx7 with stock 12a,
Weber DCOE45 conversion
new plugs and wires.
new cap and rotor.
Full emissions delete
upgraded to the FB style distributor and MSD coils (no more points ignition)

Is there something obvious Im missing here?

 

Distributor,engine static timing correct?

 

Dizzy clocked wrong. Did you have the dizzy out and put it back in recently? Do you know the history of the car?