The timing values you cite really sound way off.
obviously changing distributors will change the timing somewhat, probably a few degrees,
but if you are checking with a timing light, it just doesn't make sense that it should have
to be so far advanced to run normally. That is why I doubted that your timing marks were
correct.
The engine SHOULD respond to timing pretty much the same no matter what kind of distributor
you are running unless there are tremendous differences in the strength of the spark,
like one is barely enough to ignite the mixture.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma