HI Ian,
> anyways, i got the car home, ran great, did a burnout at the same length
  =)
> as when it was set at 22.5 (or so)  so i figured it was all ok.
> When the car is idling in drive, it slows, sputters, nearly stalls, then
> speeds up.  Surges, if you will.
At this point, I would have said your distributor is AFU. and changing dwell
over a short time. (Happens when the distributor shaft gets worn). 
  (HEI it if its a GM)
> I checked the timing, (Disconnectes dist.vac. line) it was perfect.
> Plugged  the vac. line back in and immediately the timing mark jumped, i
> don't know how many degrees but about an inch or more advanced. (The engine
> would barely run w/o the dist. vac. line plugged in) 
> Then i had someone rev the engine and the mark never moved from that spot.
> The pedal was to the floor for a brief moment, but still the timing mark
> never moved.  
> I figure either the vac. advance is pulling ALL the time, or the springs
> in the distributor are too weak and letting  the mech. advance go all the
> time.
> help!
Sounds like your mechanical advance is jammed full on.  Yes, the springs
could be shot in it, or even broken.
If the springs are good and springy still, the mechanical advance pivots
could be binding.   Pull the cap, and see what the condition of the
mechanical advance is.
Sounds like something that should have been caught by the above institution.
   (Pssst... HEI it if its a GM)
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