[leftybass209]

Timing tab is spot on, balancer is correct and ring hasn't slipped. TDC is nose on at the 0 mark, which was verified using both the old distributor, and the new distributor. Engine can't turn over fast enough and idles smooth as silk around 10-12 degrees initial at 700 rpm

where I don't follow you is, what are distributor degrees, versus crankshaft degress?

I've always heard it put mechanical advance (that of the distributor weights), and initial advance (that of the crankshaft).

If that holds true, this distributor doesn't mechanically advance past 11 degrees, which is what I was experiencing when checking total timing. I had my initial set to 10 degrees advance at first, and I couldn't get over 21-22 degrees total timing (vac ports plugged on advance can and carb). I thought maybe the springs were too heavy not letting it advance within a reasonable RPM (engine is designed for low-end torque, not high rpms), so I used some super light springs, and still couldn't get over 24 degrees total.

I'm not willing to advance my initial timing past 14 degrees. Long story short, after vacuum advance is hooked up, idle rpms set where I want, and my stock stall, the engine isn't happy and wasn't happy with the original distributor if I went over 14 degrees advance.

I suppose it could be a malfunctioning distributor?