Distributor Experts, HELP PLEASE!!!

[tcb-1]

I think I found my problem, but would like to run it past you all before I go any further.

I have a '69 C-10 with a bone stock 350 running a points ignition.
new plugs gapped to .035"
distributor cap and rotor look good
points gapped. new coil and plug wires
no arcing when the lights are out
fresh gas, new inline fuel filter
carb is a fairly new 1405 Edelbrock with manual choke
choke is closing

it starts like a champ, and idles up to 1000rpm, but when I try to increase the rpm, it starts to stutter severly. when I kept the foot in it to "see" if it cleared out, I da#n near blew my Flowmasters apart. so there is major gas dumping straight into the exhaust. I haven't timed it, but will tomorrow.

so tonight on a thought, I check the vacuum advance. I hook up suction to the vacuum unit. it would not hold vacuum and it didn't move the advance plate any. so I take it out and tear it apart and sure enough, the vacuum unit's diaphram is split.

now....... other than timing, would a trashed vacuum advance cause my symptoms? anything else I'm missing that obvious? I don't think I have a sticking valve, but I guess I should do a compression check.

other than "natural causes", why would a vacuum advance go South?

need help guys, bigtime