[jcwren]

Thanks for the comments.

Shakedown cruise didn't go so well. In fact, didn't get 200 feet. The 250 idled well, and would hit 4K under no load, but with a load on it, it was just dying. Pretty sure it's the crappy 1 bbl pseudo-Rochester.

Ordered a Holley 350 Avenger 2 bbl w/ electric choke and and a Trans-Dapt 1 bbl to 2 bbl adapter. I have Hedman headers on it and want the choke so I don't have to wait forever for it to warm up. While I was waiting for it to come in I set the valves again (they were fine), ran a compression check, double-checked TDC, etc.

Then it starts going south... Although the Trans-Dapt is specifically for the Chevy Inline 6, it'll only work with the intakes that have 5/16"-18 threaded studs, so naturally mine has 3/8"-16 studs. To keep the linkage in the correct position, you've got to use the recessed bolt holes, which means going to socket cap bolts. But the socket caps won't fit in the recessed holes. I was going to drill them out, but the walls start getting a little thin, and it starts turning into a hack job. So I ordered a 5/16"-18 Keensert kit, which should come in today.

On top of the stud size problem, the electric choke created a minor problem. It has a small bit of linkage that hangs below the base of the carb and hits the Trans-Dapt plate. So I had to mill out a little material to clearance. OK, I didn't mill it, I used the bench grinder and hogged it out. Whatever...

Running headers typically require adjusting the mixture, and the cheese-ball carb didn't had a mixture adjustment (one of the reasons I switched to the Holley is that it is adjustable, and has replaceable jets and power valves). I also picked up a couple AEM air/fuel meters and sensors, and tapped the headers for the O2 sensors. My buddy is like "Hey, we can set the mixture by ear", and I'm more like "I hate subjective things, I'd rather instrument it". So once I get the carb installed, I'll properly set the air/fuel mixture and jet size. I'll cap the bungs off afterwards. I mounted the gauges in a small project box so I can use them on other engines (like once I start working on the '71 Dart's 318).

MAYBE this weekend it'll actually be called done...