rough idle

It sounds like the engine timing needs to be advanced. Do you have a timing light? I would advance it 4 degrees to see what happens.

Also I would check the fuel pressure and change the fuel filter.

Here are some guides to help you get started.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-a-fuel-filter

For the rough idle it sound like you may have low compression in one or more cylinders. Here is a guide to help with that.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please check it out and get back to me.

Cheers, Ken

thanks for your response. I moved the timing to 4 up from 0 and no difference. I replaced the fuel filter, fuel pump and sending unit. The only fuel reg is the one in the throttle body . I put a kit in the throttle body and did the pressure reg. No change. New spark plugs, new wires and new distributor. no difference. when doing the compression test 90-110
I just put the new plugs in a few weeks ago and when doing the compression ck I noticed the plugs were black sooty, so I got rid of the red air filter, thinking maybe not getting the air it should be because I have to floor throttle body to get it to start up. when it does start to run it smokes very bad like it is flooding. it does start up better without the air filter. I will buy a white air filter to make sure it is getting the air it needs. I will wait a while to see if the problem with to much fuel goes away. I also bought an add in line fuel pressure valve. soon I will put it in and check fuel pressure.

problem fixed.......I have a smooth idle now.....no more stuttering . Up by the thermostat there is a sensor called coolant temperature sensor. It cost some where around $20.00 and it is wired to the computer. This sensor is different than the temperature sensor on the drivers side of the block which goes to the dash gauge which shows the motor temp. The one on the front of the intake manifold tells the computer the temp of the motor and the computer increases the fuel or decreases the fuel. I replaced this sensor and immediately I had a smooth throttle. The timing is set at 0 with the wire unplugged on the firewall and plugged back up after setting timing. Thank you

Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help

Cheers, Ken