There is absolutely no need to pull the distributor on this engine to gain enough range of movement to properly time it without running into something.
Simply pull the spark plug wires off of the distributor cap and relocate them one distributor tower off of where they currently are. Then you can put the ball on the needle, twist the distributor until the rotor is lined up to the #1 wire. You will then have all kinds of room to advance or retard the timing.
Carl
