So after I fixed my intake manifold gaskets, now there are no leaks. peachy.
While I was doing this, I shimmed my distributor, around .012" now, as well as installed the crane kit for my vacuum advance.

So, I used the lockout tab, I hope correctly, and set it on the 2nd tooth, to only give me around 12d vacuum advance (I believe). I put in the heavy and medium spring, so 800-2800RPM advance, and wd-40'd my weights and top of dist (since it appears they were sticky, wouldn't snap back...)

Upon assembly the rotor would snap back when pulled. I also turned the vac advance can 9 turns out I believe, as per the tech article.

Now, upon starting it, it jumped to ~1600RPM high idle, no big deal. I have the vac advance disconnected.
I had the wire on the thermostat coil disconnected (oops), and it was sitting on the valve cover, sparking away. shut it off, reconnected it started it back up. Let it "idle" for 5 mins or so at 1500rpm, pushing down the high idle cam etc.
So now it's idleing at 1500RPM with the throttle "bracket" sitting on the low idle screw. I believe the mixture screws are 2 turns out. The timing is a little confusing, I put on an MSD timing tape for 6.75" balancer, and I'm not sure if the zero is the biggest "V" on the block, or the round circle that I can look through...?

oh, and when I was putting in my dist. I couldn't get it to drop in lined up with the gears, so the only way it'd drop in was way out. So I dropped it in, then turned the crankshaft with a ratchet and finger in #1 plug hole. After feeling compression, I continued until the slit in the balancer was at what I thought was 0, then checked where the rotor was pointing to on the cap, and plugged in #1. Then continued on the firing order. (Some plug wires are rather tight...)

Now, I shut off the car and it dieseled hard, and puffed steam/smoke out the top of the carb. What's going on? What should I try? Sorry for the superlong post. Thanks -J

 

k, kinda fixed it. reset the mixture, checked the springs&weights, put a drop of oil on the weight pivot...

anyway, one weird thing, when I push down on the fast idle cam, and turn the throttle lever, it'll drop the idle speed a bit... but in the car, when I tap the gas, it drops right down to 700
maybe that's after it's had a chance to warm up more?

Can someone tell me which does what:
- turning the choke thermostat housing
- turning in the screw on the vacuum break
- fast idle screw (well this is obvious..)
- any other adjustments that might affect fast idle

One should adjust how long the choke is on for right? like what temp it'll turn off? and one is for how rich the mixture is?



Anyway, I think it's all figured out, i've got 10* base, and about 15* mechanical (with vacuum advance unplugged), giving me 25* total without vacuum. I'm able to adjust that, no biggie.
But when I hook up the vacuum to ported, I figured i'd check and find out how much advance the vacuum is giving me... however, it brings up the idle to have some mechanical I believe, and I get about 40*....?
How can I setup my vacuum advance with the mechanical advance there? just test drive and adjust? I'm trying to figure out if i'm locking enough timing out with the tab basically...
Thanks -J