Sorry to take so long to get back to this thread, but life happens. I got a new distributor and installed it with 2 gaskets under the flange where it snugs to the block, giving me about 050 additional clearance from where is bottoms into the boss in the bottom of the block.
Repositioned the distributor so the advance won't come up close to the intake as well. I got a cheap HF dial back timing light to compare to my old Craftsman and it checks out the same. Odd thing is it's running good now with about 15* initial, and I may roll a few more * into it. But weather sucks so I can't get it out and drive much I need to adjust the valves again as well.
I dumped the oil, I only have 35 miles on it, but wanted to get any aluminum out that the distributor had shed into it. I cut the filter open and lt caught a good portion of it. I did have a LOT of glitter in this oil dump, but I attribute it to everything being new and finding its home. I still don't like to see that much. I filled it up with more driven break in oil. So time will tell.