.... I then sprayed all connections w/soap (as well as the line coming from the carb but found no bubbles [....] there is a hole in the manifold where the carb bolts but is blocked by the spacer [....] upon reconnecting the line at the vacuum advance the distributor immediately advanced at idle.
vacuum doesn't blow bubbles, it sucks, need to use the propane as Tim suggests - instead of reconnecting it, try just plugging it off, which may be what you're doing connecting it with that hole blocked by the spacer, will prolly act the same as "reconnecting" it
Bill
