Timing issues

I am unable to properly time a 3fse engine. I know the dist only goes in 1 way so that is correct. The best I am able to get is 20 btdc. I thought it was a timing belt issue but the belt is new. I even tried advancing and retarding the cam and can't even get the car to run. In straight up timing, the idle is real low, rough and dies in gear and poor performance. The stalling resulted in a ticket for my son when it died, lost braking and rolled a stop.
Thanks for any help

Check on the emmisions/timing plate in the engine compartment and it should reference a test connector. In order to properly set the timing two pins on the connector need to be shorted. (should be a diagram on the data plate)

Thanks for responding. I forgot to mention I did the jumper wire to time it. I actually am further out than 20 degrees, I can't even get it on the scale. I guess I will try again starting from the top and "dead time" the cam acording to dist. position.