Distributor/Points etc etc

[Loose Screw]

Ok, I'm hot, tired and Bummed, aaaand my truck is sitting halfway in my small garage...I'm gping to half to push it around to get the garage door closed...aaand I'm due for major surgery on my teeth, jaw and gums in the coming month...my mouth is killing me....

Anyway, out of nowhere my truck started to backfire at about 1500-2000 rpm. It started up fine and idled fine but pick up the RPM and it was popping I switched out the 2 week old cap and rotor and messed with the points. Now it doesn't start at all.

I don't know, but the distributor shaft seemed kind of loose...

I can't get a feeler gauge in there to even set the points and I can't get it running to set the points while it's running.

Yes, I've checked the plug wires (10xs!)

Is dropping a new distributor in there a bear?

I need to get some rest and look at this later with rested eyes.....

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Working solo, I've strapped down the trigger on my timing light and laid it on the cowl so I could see it from the driver's seat. A plug tester would work also.
This way I could see when I at least had enough gap to make some kind of spark
Once I got it to run badly, I could set dwell with the meter, then set initial timing.

I had this problem because I had the type of points with the condenser onboard which got in the way of the feeler.

You might just be able to get a paper match in there for initial gap the old school way.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

sanding the points with a little bit of Emery paper first is a good start