Timing issues and woes (Search didn't really help)

[zaffer]

I have a '72 914 with a '74 1.8L in it (just swapped it in due to issues with the 1.7). I had to swap the 1.7L fan to the 1.8L as the engine received didn't have the fan with it. I marked the timing marks (white at TDC, red at 27 BTDC, and a red line at 34 BTDC, according to the article).

The distributor that was on the old engine is 0231178009 (non-vacuum advance) with a Pertronix ignitor in it and it never quite ran right with it. I swapped it into the 1.8L and the TDC position on this one is near cyl. #2 (it was the same on the 1.7L). Anyway, I timed it up on the engine using the articles on here, including timing with carbs as it has dual single barrel Webers. It runs okay, however if I remove cyl. 1 & 4 ignition wires so there is a little air gap between the leads and the spark plugs, it runs great! It does not do this on cyl. 2 & 3. Why would this be? I've never experienced this before. It did the same thing on the 1.7L as well.

I swapped in the distributor that came with the 1.8L and the rotor is near the 12 o'clock position (facing the fan shroud) with this distributor. It is a vacuum advance. Now the car won't start at all. I have not checked the condition of the condenser yet. This appears to be the original distributor for the 1.8L engine, according to the part number, which I don't have on me right now.

The reason we swapped engines is due to the 1.7L BURNING oil and barely running.

Any ideas/advice?

[Bigtoe32067]

Change the plugs on 1 & 4. Plugs are bad so secondary ignition doesn’t have a chance to build up before discharged because the path of resistance is too low.
I guarantee new plugs will fix it. I’ve seen this many time over the years
Tony

[dr914]

install points and condenser set the dwell and statically set the timing, verify a spark and firing order then try, and if need be spray some starting fluid down the carb throttle bodies