Thanks to all of your help my engine is now running much better.

It wasn't idleing evenly, I couldn't properly adjust my dwell angle, when I adjusted the timing I would sometimes get a good zap from the coil, and it would start to stall out when the engine got cool after cruising and coming to a stop.

What I did:

1. I checked my thermostat in hot water with a thermomater and it checked out fine, but I switched it out with another good one just in case.

2. I put the mechanical advance distributor in from my B18 (real easy swap, only took me about 20 minutes to get it switched and dialed in)

3. Adjusted my timing with a Tachometer and found that a base setting of around 30 degrees BTDC was perfect (just like George said).

4. Readjusted carbs and all.

Results:

The engine now runs more smoothly and has a surprising increase in pep. I highly recommend ignoring the timing in the manual and just do it with a tac or by ear I think going to 30 from 20 BTDC gave me a big performance boost. Unfortunately it still wants to die after cruising at speed and coming to a stop. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I get the engine to idle smooth at about 900 - 1000 rpm. After a good stretch of driving the engine cools to a temp lower than the standing idle temp that I tune it at, and the engine won't idle and I have to pull out the choke a bit. Do they make thermostats higher than 81C?? Would a higher thermostat even help (it doesn't seem like it would)?? I don't want to just turn up the idle becuase it don't like the engine running fast when I am stuck in traffic (irrational pet peeve). I just want my standing idle temp to be the same as my cruising temp, or is that too much to ask from this old car???