first distributor timing attempt

[30 A Ripper]

probably just newbe-itis but several things have me wondering.

1. rotor to body gap varies. body can move about unless cap on and latches secured. not sure how to measure rotor/body gap with this lossness. Do new caps usually fit tighter even without "latches" secured?
I don't remember this problem in my earlier years..
2.hand cranking and trying to keep an eyeball on the cam high spot in order to check points is tough. is it a single high spot or something larger that I'm shooting for? points appear to be .030+
3.Bytheway, my plugs were at .030 also and I regapped to .025 after cleaning.
4.it appears to me that the distributor has no vertical play due to bushing wear as no wiggle can be induced. (that's with the cam screw tight). Hoping something is going my way...

Is there a forum for dummies? Feeling that way the farther I go and find complications with the simple printed instructions.

Dick