An update. I removed the distributor brake adjusting cylinder and the inner components were there. The piston did have a grove worn into it but still looked serviceable. The spring seemed to still be ok. I had to build a vacuum line using the fitting on the dissy that had been plugged and a copper line that I jimmied up to the vacuum outlet of the carb plate.
I turned the adjusting screw way out and fired her up.
YES!!!! It ran much much better. Just to experiment, I turned the screw in a couple turns and it ran like crap. Still has some stuttering at higher RPM's but at least now I can drive the damn thing again.
Thank you all for your help. My ignorance is feasting on all of your knowledge.
Phil