Stupid Distributor Questions

Did you plug the vacuum port on the carb? What did you set the float drop to? Take a volt meter, put it on ohms and check each wire.

The popping is from being lean. You need to back off the timing to eliminate the pinging. take it back to about 35-36* total. Which hole is the arm set on the accelerator pump? If its in the middle hole, try the top hole.