I have a 79-80 12a jspec with a newer lead style distributor from my 83 motor and for some reason my timing marks are off. When I fired it up for the first time I checked the timing and saw that the marks were way off despite the fact it was running fine. When I try to move the dizzy towards the marks the engine chugs and dies before I get close. Thinking the crank pulley may have been removed and reinstalled improperly I took the pulley from my old motor and bolted it in front of the current pulley aligned a quarter to the left with no luck. I adjusted the timing by ear for now, but I don't get it, when its running fine the marks are 1.5-2" to the right and when I try to move it the engine dies before I get close.

 

I'll be willing to bet 75cents your off by a Tooth or 2.
When you stabbed the Disti in did you line up the Gear Correctly?
There are some good thread here on how to check Top Dead Center and where the Position the Rotor where to find it.
Search=Top Dead Center.
sgieldon
steve

 

I pulled the dizzy and reinserted it with one tooth off, the dizzy adjustment is now centered but thats about it, the marks are still off by the same amount.

 

Your pulley is off. Your probably going to have to bite the bullet and locate TDC per the thread in the archives.

 

Consider the distributor drive gear on the e-shaft could be backwards.