Engine loping along. Cannot retard spark.
 

New to the Barn. Purchased 1949 Ford Custom V8. Own 1950 Ford Custom 6. Trying to get good idle. Engine lopes at idle even before I changed point, plugs and condenser. Can't use the upper half of distributor adjustment because vacuum advance diaphram cover hit water inlet on head. Can't retard spark. Is this the incorrect distributor???

Re: Engine loping along. Cannot retard spark.
 

You could probably pull distributor partly out and jump it one tooth?

Re: Engine loping along. Cannot retard spark.
 

You need to rotate the body of the distributor by one or two teeth.
Make a mental note of where no. 1 sparkplug wire comes out of the cap.
Remove the cap and turn over the motor so that the rotor is pointing to no. 1 plug terminal AND the timing mark on the front pulley lines up.
Put a mark on the body of the distributor where the rotor is, as accurately as you can.
Unbolt the distributor and turn the rotor in the direction you want the body to move until it jumps one or two teeth. Set it back down and then move the body directly under the rotor and bolt it down.
You can skip the first two steps if you are confident.