Agree with above, I'd change the fuel filter first. Have you tested your dist. vac. advance to see if it's working? Remove your dist. cap and look for the little arm that extends from the vac. adv. to the plate in the dist. Now remove the vac. hose from the carb and suck on it, watch to see if the arm pulls into the vac. adv., if it doesn't the diaphragm in it is shot. You can get replacement adv. at the parts store.
You can check the points with the cap off, take a small flat blade screw driver and lightly pry them apart if they're not open, look at the contacts on the points with a flashlight and see if they look burned, you can smoothe them somewhat with an emery board, fine metal sandpaper, etc. To adjust them you need a gap blade and a shop manual wouldn't hurt.
Jon