Timing issue

[myobsessions]

Hi all you awesome folks!
I've made an enormous amount of progress on my build: Engine is in, transmission, transfer case and driveshafts are in, and it runs!

But... it runs like crap. I think the timing is off, but the issue is that I can't turn the distributor any further because the vacuum advance is running into the oil filter!
I only about 3 more degrees of counterclockwise rotation and it'll be good to go

Thinking it was maybe an issue with the original dizzy from the 1F motor I put on it, I swapped in the Mallory distributor that the 2F engine had installed, and I seem to be running into the same issue with that as well.

Has anyone run into this? I started down the path of incrementally more wrong by repositioning all of the spark plug wires by one position on the distributor cap, but that just feels wrong.

Ideally I'd prefer to use the OEM distributor, as that'll make getting the right parts easier (I hope) than trying to chase down the proper cap and rotor for the Mallory distributor down the road, since they don't appear to be made anymore.

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance, FJ tax below along with pic of the engine before I installed it, with the OEM distributor not rotated anywhere near where it needs to be

 

[Pighead]

Has anyone run into this?

Yup. First time I tried to put the vacuum advance dizzy on my Late F. I learned how to "clock" the dizzy one tooth counter-clockwise (I think it was, check my math) to make it fit and work

EDIT: no, if you clock the rotor one tooth clockwise, then you can rotate the body to match and give you more room between diaphragm and filter

 

[pb4ugo]

I agree, It sounds like your dist is a tooth off, one way or the other.

 

[myobsessions]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a swing at putting the OEM dist back in place this week and turn it one tooth. I'll report back

 

[myobsessions]

So, it's taken me too long to get back to this after I had a sporting accident that needed a bunch of stitches and (annoyingly) required me to stay off my feet for a couple weeks.

I took everyone's advice and turned the dizzy one step, and after a really stupid trip down a rabbit hole diagnosing what turned out to be 2 reversed spark plugs wires (duh) it finally runs great and I was able to get the timing set correctly!

Thanks all for your help!