1980 rx-7 no emissions stock modified carb. ... my question is how far can I advaance my timing and do ni harm to the motor. I like the added pep I get from advancing but dont really know if I'm getting a overall better performance gain. I seem to have a sort of dead spot around 3000 to 5000rpm's runs kind of sluggish and then around 4750-5000 it really picks up. and really it should run like that thru whole rpm range. And dose it hurt the motor at all to drive it like you stole it? COming witin 1000k from redlining it before almost every shift. because that to me is fun as hell.....

 

Well lets start with the lag that you are talking about could be the secondary throttle not opening until later, this could be because of a small crack or hole in the diaphragm that pulls them open.

On the timing front, there should be no harm in adding 1-3 degrees of timing but after that it depends on the fuel mix and AFR. It is hard to blow a NA motor but if you start with a tired motor then it is possible.

Running it like you stole it is sometimes good and sometimes bad.

Good, you keep all the parts moving very well, mostly in the carb.
Bad, Parts wearing out faster unless you keep a eye on the fluids more, OVERTEMP will kill you super fast.

 

Here is a link to a very good site about timing a rotary:

http://www.yawpower.com/pultime.html