Can't physically turn my distributor to get much advance

MN1968Valiant said
You mean where the plate bolts to the bottom of the distrib?
And if it's a tooth off, when I pull and restab the distrib I turn the rotor counterclockwise to compensate, right?

Yep. Just mark everything before you pull it.

daredevil said
If they work like smallblocks you need to restab the distributor gear. I think you are already on the right track.

Sorry DD, slants use a gear like a Che, Che, Che, sorry, computer won't let me add the last 3 letters.