Car not running what is should, need help.

I got around to checking timing and advance today.
I checked it with the light and I had 20 degrees initial,
and when I reved the car up it went to 36 degrees. This
is where I stopped when I checked it at the track. Just
for the heck of it I kept on the throttle to about 4000rpm
and IT WENT BACK DOWN AND STAYED AT 30 DEGREES.
I think I may have found at least part of the problem.
I have the vacum advance unhooked and the allen screw
in the canister turned in all the way, but it can still move a
little inside the distributor. Anyone ever pull the canister
off and use somthing to keep the plate from moving? I am
not sure if that is it or the springs are too tight pulling the
advance in at high rpm. I might just try some light springs
I have and see what it does then. Any other ideas of what
may cause this?