wont idle in gear

it hasnt backfired yet. i will have to check the timing. my dad was messing with it and i dont know what he ended up setting it at.i put clear plugs in my float bowls yesterday. i could see gas in the front one while it was running, but i could only see it in the rear one if i shook the car, so i raised the rear one a half turn. i put those lighter advance springs in my distributor, was that a mistake maybe?