I have been removing the vacuum retard system for years with good results. It was designed to lower peak combustion temperatures to reduce NOx formation, but it also reduced fuel mileage, power, and throttle response. Disconnect it and set the initial timing at 10 degrees BTDC. Max advance on these engines should be about 34-36 degrees, at something around 3500 RPM depending on the distributor curve. Detonation at that RPM is usually inaudible, and one should limit total advance as a result to the factory amount.
Try it and see what happens - the low compression B20F should respond quite well.