Baffled by timing

[Dombrockt]

So here's the problem. I bought a non running car that has sat for quite some time. After fixing and replacing far more than I ever wanted to, I am finally to the point of starting and tuning the car. It is a 79 2000. I have replaced the intake manifold with an 1800, and the carb with a 32/36 DFEV. Other than that the engine is assumed to be stock. I replaced the timing belt, and everything went smoothly. I can get the car to start, but then the trouble begins. I stab the distributor at TDC on #4 cylinder, per the Fiat manual. The cam timing marks line up, as does the crank. I can verify the distributor being in and oriented correctly by sparking the coil wire to ground when rotating back and forth past the #4 terminal. The problem is the car won't start. I need to advance the timing to make it run. When it is running, and I put a timing light on it, the timing mark's on the pulley are at 12 o clock, and the timing pointer is at 9:30. This puts the running timing at roughly 40 degrees retarded, when it was static timed at 0 degrees. Without changing anything in between. I can advance the timing to reach the timing marks, and it does run, though it will not run past 1800 rpm's no matter what I do. I have used a timing light, as well as a vacuum gauge to try and diagnose the problem.

My 2 questions are:
1. What would make the static timing at 0 degrees turn into 40 degrees retarded?
2. Why won't the engine rev past 1800 rpms?

Any help is appreciated.

I have replaced the pickup, and associated ignition module. Plugs are new, rotor is new, wires and cap are in good shape.

[BEEK]

you put the magnet in the distributor , under the pickup backwards. take it out and flip it over

[Dombrockt]

I should have posted sooner! I have wasted a lot of brain capacity the last couple days trying to figure this out. Must be a rookie mistake? I couldn't wrap my brain around what would make a distributor behave that way. Thanks a million!

[BEEK]

a shop owner in myrtle beach nc, learned the same thing. when i was in my early 20's and worked for a fiat shop/salvage yard in atlanta, (before i started my own shop) paid me to drive to myrtle beach to help figure out why a car would not run correctly. he had purchased 100's of dollars worth of parts and was beside himelf. i drove over which was a long trip, he agreed to pay my boss 500.00 if i could get the car running. i solved the problem in the first 10 minutes i was there.

[MIGHTY 8]

Perfect example of how helpful not just this forum...but the people that make it so!

Great to hear people helping each other out and better yet...more Fiats out on the road where they belong!