Engine problem solved (mostly)
 

I spent weeks trying to track down the poor performance problem on my new rebuilt n/a. I became suspicious of the timing because when I advanced the CAS, the engine slowed down and started missing. When I retarded it, the engine would knock like crazy. Either way it barely revved over 3K.

As a last resort I restabbed tha CAS with the rotor 90 away from where it should be. The engine ROARed to life and now runs like never before! Trouble is, the timing marks are nowhere near the pointer, and when I try to line it up by turning the CAS, I would get lots of knocking again, meaning it's way advanced.

It's a stock pulley and it only goes on 1 way, right? I traced and retraced the plug wires many times. Why can the timing get so messed up?

no ideas??