[poorboy]

Patriga;
Looks likeyou have a stock Ford Dist., which is what Southern Automotive uses in most of their engines. The brass ring you see is just a hold down for the pigtail that comes thru the side of the dist., as you can see in the picture it is screwed down on one side as is the way most of them are. Looking at the plugs will not be of much help because of the way it has been running they are all going to be gas fouled. Being gas fouled could also be the reason it won't start. From the look of the carb it looks like it has been running rich. Once plugs are gas fouled they should be replaced. Most mechanics don't like to work on carbs after other people have messed with them. Not knowing anymore than you do I would wait until you take it to someone that knows what to do to it.

Poorboy