Thanks to all for the great feedback on this! Did a longer test drive last night and all seems good again now. Ron I’d be lost without your site, and Eric I will keep it in mind that you do have those pieces in stock for next time I order stuff. I don’t think I want to take it down again just yet but I think I’ll get one to have for next time I’m in there. Plus I found a rusty BL33 online so I’m getting a backup to have on the shelf. Maybe I’ll rebuild that over the winter!
Derek/Michael, there is nothing like having the parts in front of me on the workbench to help grasp some of these concepts. I always thought I understood “advance” but now I really do!

Funny footnote: at one point yesterday it seemed about right and I tightened the distributor cap up and decided to recheck timing once tightened, but it was all over the place! I was floored, and loosened the cap and started moving it back and forth trying to get it back where I had it... long story short I was hitting the dial on the timing light with my cheek as I looked along it, and was dialing in all kinds on “advance” into the light so my readings were totally “off“. Duh. More fun and more practice. Thanks again for all of the help everyone!