72 360 first start question

So yes I mean that the spark rotor ends up pointing between #1 and #3 when I rotate the oil drive gear CCW. I will try that reluctor gap test tomorrow. Also yes I'm retarding the ignition timing (rotating the dist.) to bring the idle down. I don't hav a tach hooked up but I think that's my next move. But as I back the idle down by turning my dist. I get it to a point where it'll run steady but it's still too much for and idle (12 deg. BTDC on the timing light) and it's literally one more tiny turn of the dist. a degree or two at most and all of a sudden it sounds like a good idle but if I don't keep hitting the throttle every couple seconds it'll sputter and die. Also Yes I'm setting the initial timing with the vacuum advance line disconnected and plugged on the carb. when I connect it, my rpm's go way up and then I can back down the ignition timing further by turning the dist. but it's still the same thing. I can't get it to that sweet idle spot.