Sounds more like a timing problem than anything else.
Slightly loosen the adjuster bolt on the firewall-side of the distributor until you can just rotate the distributor.
Connect up a timing light coupling it to the #1 sparkplug wire.
Open the access hole on the bellhousing (if the rubber plug hasn't already disapearred)
Start the engine and shine the timing light on the flywheel in the access hole.
If the notch on the hole does not line up with roughly with the 10-degree mark at 800 RPM, gently twist the distributor clockwise or counterclockwise until it does.
The '88 Factory Service Manual is a pretty good reference material for the Hitachi carb. You can download a copy at - among other places - Ack's FAQ (link in sig below) by doing a search for fsm.
If, during the transplant, the distributor was removed or swapped, it may be necessary to set up the distributor to point at the correct cylinder. This requires you to get one of the cylinders (a good start is #1) at Top Dead Center (TDC) in the ignition stroke (both valves closed) then re-install the the distributor so that the rotor points at the #1 cylinder sparkplug with the adjuster range on the distributor set to the middle. Once this is done, proceed with the timing setup as described above.
Also, make sure that you have the sparkplug wires installed in correct order - something that you can also find in the FSM.
Hope this helps!
