Yes, that cam is a very good choice for your combination. Will make good power and have decent fuel economy.

Did you actually have to adjust the timing? Sounds like it was a cam problem, with the spitting and so forth caused by some flat exhaust lobes. If the combusted mixture can't get out of the engine because the exhaust lobe hasn't opened the valve long enough, when the intake valve opens you'll have exhaust backflowing into the intake, with the resulting symptoms that you describe.

You can do a quick check with the distributor in, but you should likely have a look at the distributor gears. When you have it out, set the end play as mentioned. You likely took care of the problem with the cam change, but it never hurts to check your distributor.