Hey folks, thought the serious work was done, but can’t get ‘er tuned.
87 Wolfsburg 2.1 with 160K.  No issues before elective Covid summer projects.  Yesterday was first fire-up after replacing cooling system (everything) and pulling dash and disturbing everything there. It started easily, clattered horribly as expected but lifters pumped up and it ran fine.  Lights and all instrumentation good.  The distributor had been out and o-ring replaced while doing water pump.

At first timing check while idling well, found it was way advanced, maybe 15 degrees.  Tried to time the easy way - at idle without disconnecting anything - will not accept timing mark at case split.  It will barely idle and dies with any attempt at throttle.

Tried at idle, disconnect temp sensor, raise speed, if set at case split, acts the same on return to idle - weak idle, won't accept throttle.  To keep it running happily, it wants to be set maybe another 5 degrees advanced - with the timing mark left of the split, almost to the left edge of the tab that sticks up.

I am just over 7,000 foot elevation, but thought I'd always had it set normally anyway.  I have considered that it’s just peeved at me for not running it all summer.

Thoughts?