My stock 72 has no pizazz below say 2500 . If I don't rev it up and slip the clutch to get moving it is just a pig !!! Ive almost gotten hit more than a couple times . If i just get it rolling and step on the gas it just putts away until the revs build a bit. Kinda scary Seems ok at higher rpm but a slug down low Ive driven old bugs that took off better than this. What should I look at first ? It has new points and plugs and valve adjustment. I think this may have the wrong distributor in it . I have some paper work saying it was replaced before I bought it I can't believe Porsche would hide the hold down nut under the advance diaphram. It's a real pain in the ass to get to and the pics in my Haines show it placed differently. If it was that far out of time i don't think it would run at all!!!

Mine ran with the dizzy 180 deg. off!!!

How's that for "far out"?
Andy

this is maybe 35 degrees off. 180 out ? HMMMM Did it run backwards???

Fuel filter, fuel pressure, TPS (clean it) and check your timing.

When mine did that, it was fuel pressure and TPS cleaning the solved it.

Rich

TPS ? throttle position switch?? ( my first teener)

yes, throttle position switch.

Rich

It's retarded.

Time it first. That's easy, and since it's in question it is critical. You need to know it's right. It will also affect your temperatures.

Valve adjustment and timing.

Sounds to me like it's retarded. As you time the engine you'll turn the dizzy some number of degrees. Not quite 35 though.

With just about everything stated above. Start with the basics. Clean it up, check all of the vacuum hoses and replace as necessary and then get the timing right. Toss in a new set of points while you're at it. Then I'd do a valve adjustment.

I had one 914 that wouldn't stay timed at all until I replaced the dizzy. It kept losing dwell angle because the points rubbing block kept wearing away. I never found out the real root cause because I had plenty of dizzies laying around at the time. Tossed in a replacement and it worked great.

no oomph in your 1.7 @ under 2500rpm in 5th gear? put it in 4th and give it some gas.