Hey guys, I just picked up a 66 coronet with what I believe to be a mostly stock 318 and a 3 speed automatic. All I can see that's been done to it are a weiand intake and summit 4barrel carb. PO said he put a mild cam in it but had no specs. It sat for a couple years before I got it. It wasn't running so I did the normal checks and found the vacuum module on the distributer was toast. I replaced the distributer (points type) and all tune up parts with OEM equipment. Once the timing was set it started right up, but the idle is rough and it stumbles and shakes as the RPM's go up. At around 3500rpm it smoothes out and revs normal. I swapped the carb for a known good one, has great fuel pressure, accelerator pump shoots out a good squirt of fuel when I goose the throttle. I tried fresh fuel from a gas can too. The one time I got the guts up to drive it around the block, it took off on its own from a stop. I fealt the gas pedal go down on its own. Oh, and if I put my hand on the back of the distributer while it's idling and gently pull it towards the front of the car the engine smoothes out and the idle goes up. The clamp is tight and it won't turn, but it seems to help the problem. It's driving me crazy! I want to drive the car but I don't trust it. Anyone have any ideas?

Points are gapped at .015. How do I check the timing? I have a gun but can't find the pointer or marks.

Actually it's the bushing wear on the dist that I am concerned about in spite of it's being new. The marks should be cast in the pass side of the timing cover. there was 1 or 2 years ~68-9) that had a bolt on timing tab on the pass side. If you have none you would need to get the ten dollar tool in the #1 plug hole & find exact TDC then at that point make a new pointer & line it up with the slit in the dampener. 0.0632683" is (1) degree so use your calipers to measure a strip of white paper to use as a ruler to make (4) new paint strips for 10-15-20-35 BTDC to the right (clockwise) from the OE TDC slit. 0.633" is 10 deg. 0.949" is 15 deg. 1.265" is 20 deg. 2.214" is 35 deg & 2&1/4" (2.246") would be 35.5 which'd be pretty close on the last one for total

I hit the carb base gasket with some starting spray and found a slight leak on the pass rear bolt. Could this cause my problem? Looks like the bolt or hole is stripped. Going to helicoil it and check it out this weekend.