just cant get the car to run right

RedFish said
I just noticed in one of the picks that the spark advance is rotated way back toward the firewall. That suggests to me that the timing is set too low.

RedFish said
Was there a time when it ran fine with the new dist' ?
Firring order and reluctor gap correct ?
If a sudden running problem inspired your replacing the dist' it may have jumped time at the chain.Just a one tooth jump will result in the symptoms you have

The advance diaphram in my 74 318 is almost parallel to the engine crankshaft. Compared to my car, your timing would be way off. If this comparison is valid, and your timing light is showing 10 degrees BTDC, then I might start looking for a slipped distributor timing gear or a slipped timing chain....