I don't have direct experience with the B16--but there's a few basic things you can check--- 1. that the centrifigal advance is working---with the distributor cap off you should be able to turn the rotor in the direction of rotation an additional 15 degrees or so and then it should spring back to its static position when the rotor is released. 2. that the vacuum (I think advance with the B16--some B18/20 motors have vacuum retard) is working--apply a vacuum hose and vacuum (suck the heck out of it or use a hand held pump) and watch that the breaker plate and points moves toward a dist cam high spot (for advance) or away from the high spot for retard type). 3. Static timing--motor off--hand crank the motor till just before the timing marks come around--put a test light between the - post on the coil and a ground - turn ign to ON - rotate the motor by hand till the test light comes on (that's the point where the points are now open)--look at the scale to see your static timing--shut the ign OFF.
You mentioned not hearing/feeling vacuum at the line to the distributor--that could be a plugged port---or---if the vacuum port is located at a part of the carb where it would be called "ported vacuum" --upstream of the throttle plate--you may not have vacuum there till certain throttle/engine speed condition are met. -- Dave