Pulling my hair out!!!

HAve discovered that if I hold the choke butterfly nearly closed, the car will run at that point. I think the reason I can not see a timing mark is that the rpm is high and thus the dist is mechanically advanced and pulling the timing mark out of veiw. I have to get the rpm down in order to see timing. I have confirmed that the factory timing mark is fairly close to TDC. I have rotated the engine with the #1 plug removed and have determined that the piston was at the top of its travel. I have not tied a piston stop but watched the movement of a wood dowel as the engine was rotated back and forth around the TDC mark. I am thbinking that this may be a fuel issue, MAYBE???

ANy ideas on how to find vacuum leak.