retard timing mechanically?

^ what you just said is way over my head lol. The distributor shown in that pic is the stock magnum dizzy that is gutted. So I have no way to play with it cause there's nothing to play with. I'm not the brightest on wiring and electronic devices unless its radios a d sou d systems. I'm going to try my luck with a normal vac add distributor hooked to the intake manifold and hope for the best... and if it don't work I will fork the cash for the msd btm.