HEI vacuum connections

[gmebey]

I'm really confused after several hours of digging for information on factory GM HEI vacuum connections.

My project truck is turning out to be more of a mess than a project. The prior owners did some weird stuff, and to the list HEI and carburetor mess.

First issue, I suspect I have a intake manifold and carburetor mismatch:

The spacer/gasket plate below the carb did not seal the vacuum ports on the bottom of the carb (Elderbrock Q-Jet 1902).....PLUS the intake manifold is from what I think is a post 1974 and has a the EGR passage under the carb. A trip to the auto parts store yielded no solution without using a 1" riser.....either the vacuum or EGR passage is uncovered.

I need a solution, is there an off the self option? At this time I'm leaning to making a plate out of aluminum.


Second issue, the distributor has been switched out for a factory HEI.

I suspect the vacuum is not plumbed right. I'm still lost after reading several articles.

I have two simple questions:
1) Did the original factory HEI use a vacuum canister?
2) Where did the original factory HEI get it's vacuum source. Manifold, not ported at the carb or ported at the carb?