Low vacuum reading

I bumped the initial up to 12*, which brought my total back to the 45* where it was before I started this whole thing... Just ssounds too high- all you hear and read about is how BBM's like 32-36 total. Seems to like it, vacuum has bumped up to 12" Still get an occasional spit out of the carb off idle, though.

I really need to limit the mechanical advance to get my total advance a bit lower so I can get my vacuum advance hooked up again. Thinking of going with one of those E Curve type distributors instead of welding up the slots in the advance mechanism.