My 1975 Spider had been running pretty rough for awhile now, and then wouldn't start at all. I started going through the ignition parts, new cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points (just learned how to set those!) and a new coil. That's when I came across this mystery--well, mystery to me at least. I could definitely be missing something obvious here.
I did my best to set the static timing (crank pulley marks lined up, both camshaft marks lined up, rotor at #4 wire), but when set to 0 degrees on the timing belt cover the engine cranks and cranks but wont start (it should at least run--if not well--right?), even though there seems to be spark, fuel and compression at each cylinder. It cranks, and when I let go of the key, I get a couple puffs, like 2 cylinders fired then it dies.
I marked the distributor with some white out, when it was set "properly" then turned it a little. When it's about 30 degrees off, the engine will fire right up but run super rough, sounds like a Harley idling or something. Turn the distributor a little bit in wither direction and it runs worse and stalls out. I'm nervous to try putting it in gear like this, I don't want to break anything!
The picture is of the distributor in the position where it runs, the white marks would line up when it's set properly to the #4 cylinder:
