new engine problem

In both distributors weights move and rotor springs back,one (mp performace one) has the light springs and the other distributor is out of a stock 318 and has heavier springs in it. If I use a vacuum pump on the actuator it moves and goes back like it should in both distributors. A person I work with has a demon with the mopar electronic conversion kit in it and it does exactly the same thing,his is set at what light shows 51 degrees of timing at idle (950 rpm) with vacuum unhooked and his also does not change at 3000 rpm. He has been driving his car for a few years like this without any problems as he just sets his timing off vacuum. I just wanted to compare his to mine as I am out of ideas. I also did some online searching and this concern comes up quite a bit in diff forums but with no reason as too why? I am checking with 2 different timing lights one without advance and can not even find mark with that one and one with advance and it has to be dialed up that high to find mark.