So i started over fresh trying to tune the idle screws on the carb.

warmed up and idling at 850 in neutral- (this is how holley says to do it)
adjusted initial timing to increase vacuum, finally get 14 in. idle screws, get me to 15" at one turn out from closed, after that i just lose vacuum. readjust idle to keep it about 850, timing set at 16*ish.

When i did these steps with the car in drive I only got it to give me 11-12".. and the idle screws really didn't change anything at any point.