Howdy back Chaz and Thor:
It's been a while Thor. I would not hesitate to use your '68 distributor with a "Load-A-Matic" Autolite 1100, '64 - '66 carb. Just plug the Spark Control valve and use manifold vacuum to the distributor. You may have to retard your initial setting to the 10 degrees of advance or less at sea level. This combo may actually get you a little better mileage at cruise, because the vacuum advance will be at it's highest at steady, high vacuum conditions.
Ideally, you might do better with a Carter YF for a 170 for mileage (150 cfm), or a 200 (187 cfm) version for a little more power. If you do, hook the vacuum line to the ported source on these carbs. This is what your '68 distributor is designed for. The YFs are supposed to be an improvement over the Autolite 1100s, but are a more complex carb. In theory, they have a better idle and choke circuitry, and transitions. It's weakness is the accelerator pump system, so when you start to get hesitation on acceleration you'll know that it's time for a rebuild kit.
The only down side is that YFs were converted to cable linkage and you'd have to adapt your air cleaner to look stock.
Chaz- You might start by rebuilding your leaky one barrel, just for the adventure and the education. I can be done in a condo garage, or the kitchen table, if you DF (Dominant Female) will allow. I use a cookie sheet pan and lots of rags to disassemble. Then take it out side to clean with carb cleaner and soak. Once cleaning and dissolve is done, take it to a tire shop and use their air hose to thoroughly blow out all orifaces and dry. Clean is paramont!. Then I let it set in the sun for an hour or two to get rid of the odors. Then begin reassembly. Study the instruction sheet in the rebuild kit thoroughly. Go slow and double check every step. This is an excercize in patience.
You'll be amazed at what a fresh rebuild can do for an old, one barrel carb. and it's a good foundation for getting a H/W to work right.
Adios, David
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