can't get idle lower than 1000

Do you have a fat cam? I have had cams that wouldn't idle below 900-1000. Check for vacuum leaks spray carb cleaner around suspect areas and wait for idle to pick up, place rag over carb and if it smooths out briefly you might have a vacuum leak somewhere. You might also set the fast idle very high and remove the idle mixture screws and spray carb cleaner into the idle screw holes while its running. You might also not have enough advance to keep it running at low idle.