help with EGR vacuum control

There is no gas in the oil. Disconnecting coolant temp unit will cayse the car to barely run. My understanding of knock sensor operation is this. Computer retards timing until sensor picks up knock, computer then advances timing just enough to stop knock. I have removed coil pack from no.1 cylinder, I mounted this coil pack onto air filter assembly. I ran spark plug wire from coil pack back to no. one plug. I can now hook up my timing light to no. 1 plug. Although flywheel has no timing marks, plate behind it does at 10-30 btdc. While car is warm and operating properly I have placed mark at 10 btdc on flywheel. Upon applying gas timing will retard about 17 degrees. During the approx 5 minutes that car runs bad the timing is almost 35 degrees btdc. I am no mechanic but have done many shade tree jobs on points type ignition. This just seems like my problem is premature firing or pre-detonation. Specs state that computer is only capable of 12-28 degree adjustment. Still looking for answers. Thanks