The ECU is fed by the crank angle sensor the position of the engine in it's revolution. From that it looks at temperature, vacuum, engine speed, etc., etc. The ECU then sets the ignition timing.
You cannot change the ignition timing on that engine by twisting a distributor.
It could be a faulty knock sensor assuming it has one.
My best guess would be to find an engine tuner with a rolling road that specialises in these engines and who knows their "special features".
You will not sort it with a reasonably priced code reader.
A Ford Engine Specialist is my opinion. No idea at all about who that would be
