Timing
 

I've recently reset my timing and now my car runs horribly. I've checked the dwell with a meter and set the time at 3500 rpms (engine warm) and now the car wants to sputter and backfire at low rpms. I tried turning the distributor a little more and the backfire went away but it doesn't coordinate with the marks on the impeller fan. I'm running 34's with a 009 distributor. Any ideas?

Try retading the timing. The 009 has about half of the advance built in as the stock distributor. If you set the timing to the stock marks (27 deg BTDC @ 3500 RPM, assuming a 1.7 or 2.0) it will be over-advanced near idle. If you set the static timing (~4 deg BTDC engine off) it'll be fine off idle and will suck at mid-to-high revs. So you'll have to compromise. Try 7 deg BTDC with the engine off and see how that works.

Better yet, get a stock distributor (from any 914, but 1.8 may be better) or an 050. Or have the 009 re-curved. Check the distributor specs article on the 914 Club's homepage. Go to http://www.dgi.net/914 and click on "914 tech specs", I think.

--DD