Car ran pretty good all the way down here from IL, Consumed a bit of oil when the AC was on, not sure why that's for another day another post  but now it's idling real, real rough.  It's also liking to stall after a stop when the AC is running. But not until I press on the gas when the light turns green.  I've got it idling at 1000 out of gear and about 550 in drive ( I hate automatics). I've got the timing set at 6 degrees. Should I just turn the idle up? Or do I need to reset the timing?

 With that said, 79's weren't known for their power but I can't even chirp the tires.

 Thoughts?

 Jim

JimG38551.8369328704

Have you checked your plugs? If it used a bit-o-oil on the trip, you might have some fouled plugs.
Might have also sprung a vaccuum leak somewhere?
If you romped on it a time or two, (who, ME?!), it might have pumped up a couple of lifters that don't wanna re-adjust.
Any smoke showing out of the tail?

btw...glad you made it safely!

Look and see if there is an idle kicker solenoid on the left front of the carb.   Many of our cars had them.  The purpose was to kick up the idle when the A/C was on to compensate for the load.   Look at your tune up label.  If it has a kicker, or had one, the label should identify a spec for adjustment.

You won't believe this ...

 Even with the hold down cranked down the distributor managed to turn itself so the timing is off. I can go out to the car right now and I'm able to twist the distributor.

 Is this normal?

 Jim

No.... the hold down could be bent & not allowing the 2 little ends to hold the distributor shaft tight.

Alan

The gasket between trhe distributer and manifold adds some resistance to turning, is it there?   Mike

I've seen the clamp bend on many high rpm romps. The factory clamp is normally good enough to not bend, but maybe someone has tightened it a little too tight, a few too many times! This is why all the racers use a billet style clamp.(At high rpms, the cam tries to push the dist. out of the engine.)

Check the clamp and the gasket. If it's been moving around(the dist), the gasket is probably gone, anyway.
Glad that's all it was!!!