a matter of timing

[dusterbd13]

Megasquirt2 3.47 with hei8 ignition. ecu was set up by diyautotune for the HEI. bypass on d16 (I think)

I'm trying to figure out base timing. The documentation says to switch over to fixed timing and set the distributor by timing light to the same number in the fixed timing table box. I set it to 0, and lined up the marks.

Couldn't get it to fire again after shut down. Cranked back in an unknown amount of timing at the distributor, and it fired right up.

What am I missing here? It's probably something a 5th grader knows, but I'm lost.

also, and possibly unrelated, but possibly not, is that the tach reads WRONG. low by about 100%. its wired to the negative side of the coil as it would be factory.

[Rick Finsta]

You've locked out all advance mechanisms?

[dusterbd13]

There is no mechanical or vacuum advance in the distributor if that's what you mean. None at all.