Distributor question - Electronic to Points

[RuralTowner]

Okay last time I made a post here (I think it was here) there wasn't even a courtesy response. It was regarding an 81 1/2ton P/U. IDK it might have been another Toyota forum. But this is the only I remember. But atm I have a problem.

My 78 Toyota Corolla w/ 1.6L 2T-C has a faulty vacuum advance: the diaphragm no longer works and I can't even move the advance by force in any direction. This one has the electronic components. Now I have a 77 parts vehicle with the same exact engine but it has points and a fully functioning vacuum advance. Now I would rather try a conversion which is sure to be the cheaper route than buying a full replacement distributor for the 78 at the cost of ~100$ before shipping.

Now I'm informed from another forum that I should ignore the 2 leads coming from the coil assembly of the 78 and a confirmation inspect shows no resistor and has 2 other connectors going out elsewhere (to where IDK). The 77's coil assembly has only 2 (1 to distributor and 1 to a vacuum juncture). Should I just switch out the elec distributor for the point one and run a totally separate wire through a resistor to (somewhere) in the ignition system. Or should I simply swap the coil assembly as well so I have the necessary hookups. Doing this however will have unknown effects for the other links however.

[RuralTowner]

I've scrapped the idea of a conversion and just bought a replacement distributor. Pulled the old one and put in the replacement. I did not make any marks prior to this which is probably the reason I'm having so much trouble now. But after the change I started it up after a few cranks and it ran...just sounded like it needed some new carb tuning and small adjustment of the distributor angle itself. I turned the car off and went to the neighbor for some assistance with this since he's had more hands on knowledge...get to the car...wouldn't start. Going by the book on the car didn't get much in the way of results but got it to TDC for #1 cylinder which also lined up the timing marks. No go. I put the old distributor back in for the same results. Today (since yesterdays rainy weather prevented doing any work...any mechanic-ing is Shade Tree minus the tree) I went ahead and just went ahead and meticulously lined up the timing marks and would move the distributor 1 gear tooth. Did this with both old and new. One 1 attempt with each it seemed CLOSE...like it would try to start but still a no go.

Now the car originally came with a 3-speed auto (AT) but due to other issues I swapped that with a 5-speed manual (MT) from a parts car. Timing for AT is 171 degrees while MT is 10 degrees BTDC. Also it has 2 different marks on the harmonic balancer pulley which is setup for 2 belts though only 1 is on. I have been using the mark on the inner pulley closest to the timing cover so far, while there is another on the center ridge between the two belt trenches about 2-3 inches behind the first and is I'm ASSUMING the 171 degree mark. My next attempt will probably be using the outer mark since the car ran fine okay before trying to tangle with the distributor...but since this car is to be (at least that's the idea) a better commuter than my current vehicle, I wanted to be sure everything is in order to get the most out of every MPG I can.