Timing/Power/MPG

1973Barracuda said
OK, I have a pretty fresh 318 .030 over stock heads and cam, 727 and 2.76 gears, dual exhaust. It runs great(at idle and in neutral or park stationary), sounds strong, 10* initial, about 34 around 2500.500cmf Edie, 340 intake(came with the car, I know its a slight mismatch), stock manifolds. It seems real weak to me, sluggish accelleration, new tune up components. This part may sound funny, At tdc, my rotor is pointing at the front of the car, I 180ed it(pointed straight at the rear of the car), and it wouldn't run. I put it back, all was well. I read in a previous post, some guys were saying to time the engine, keep advancing till it stops gaining RPM while reducing the RPM, it was a mech advance dist(I have vac), does this sound right? I know stock 318s are a bit weak, but I think a Neon could take me. I am also getting about 10MPG, I feel I should be getting 16-18. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I bought this car while in Afghanistan and am working the issues now that I am back. Thanks
Jason

First off you have to realize that the Dist and Cam turn at half Speed to the crank......or crank turns 2 times to the dist turning one.

When you pulled the cap and the rotor seem to be 180* out..........it was NOT as you found out by putting it back.

Try this Method and you will find that the rotor is now pointing back to the fire wall were its sapost to be............ Remove #1 spark plug, cover the spark plug hole with the butt end off a screw driver. Now while holding screwdriver, have a buddy keep bumping the starter until you here air escape from around the Screw driver. NOW, bring eng back up to Top Dead center(tdc) remove dist cap and you will find that the rotor is at the back of the fire wall.

Now Just to validate this method above............leave the dist cap off and turn the eng one more revolution...........rotor turn half a turn, Right.......... one more turn of the crank and the rotors back at the fire wall aka 2 crank rev= 1cam/dist rotations.

Next,
2.76 gears 500 cfm carb on top of a 318 and 10 m.p.g.............. there is something Wrong!

does it idle smooth? Drive OK?