Thanks again, guys.  Joel: It's quite possible I got the order wrong on the plug wires, or they were all off one notch, or I was off a tooth.  But I've already pulled the dist so I'm just going to do it the manual way.  Tonight I'm going to get it turned to 12 deg BTDC (a good starting place for my engine) on compression stroke and then set the dist so rotor is pointing at exactly #1 on the cap.  That way I can get the dist body sitting exactly the way I want it.  Sound OK?

No problem...every idea is usable in some way or another. The more, the merrier!

Dave...why not just drop it in at "0", instead of trying to get your initial 12 deg? Chances are, if you install the dist with the crank at 12 degBTC, you may not have any adjustment left to twist the dist if needed.....
Granted, I've never attempted to install one already advanced like that, so I don't really know how that works out....but it is an interesting concept.

Joel, my idea for putting it in at 12 degrees is to hopefully avoid having to turn the distributor very much when I'm timing it with a light.  Theoretically, if I have #1 set at 12 deg BTDC, rotor pointing right at #1 in the cap, and shaft/base relationship is set right at a trigger point, wouldn't the timing be right on at 12?  I know it won't be perfect but I'm hoping it's close.  And I have to admit, it's really only an aesthetic thing - I want the base of the distributor to have it's connections along the axis of the car (e.g. the wires that come out the front should be directly in front), not all cockeyed like they usually are after they've been timed.  (Especially if you are running more advance than stock).  And I do still run the original shielding so you can't have it too cockeyed.  But please do correct me if I'm wrong on this logic.  I'm kind of making some assumptions here.   

 Don't know Dave....I've never tried to pre-advance a dist, so I can't say it will, or will NOT work. Heck...let's find out! TAG!! Yer IT! 

Well, it worked, but I may have gotten partially lucky that it did.  It's set in there and running good, timed at about 16 degrees initial and the cap is oriented the way I want it to.  Still have to get the advance curve right though.  Looks like I'm only getting about 26 total (initial + mechanical) everything I've read says you want about 36 total and for it to be all in at 2500 rpm. I have a pretty light set of springs in there - one light spring (copper colored) and one medium spring (silver).  I might have to try using both copper springs.  But it's running good now, and has good throttle response and it's not pinging, so going to leave well enough alone for now.  Might even drive it to my mother in law's for the feast today.  

Great to hear you got in and going Happy Thanks giving to all I am smelling the food know

That's great news Dave!

  

Car made it to my mother-in-law's and back (Woodburn, OR - 80 mile round trip) no issues.  Ran like a top the whole way.  Thanks for the help, guys!  

Great when a plan comes together, eh Dave?