I wouldnt complain...LOL
35 mph lock in 3rd is good. Did you put a temp switch in? Maybe its a higher temp than normal? Just a thoutght in the lockup delay.
I have to shine the light behind the AC bracket, kind of a bitch, but you can do it. its hard not to cast shadows from the ps pump and the coolant pump.
do you have the electronic q jet?
Yeah, thats a good carb. I have done a few....just half a qjet. A rebuild wont guarentee the problems go away though. Has a compression check been done? Any manifold vac leaks?
If you have the stock 3.42s, then those 33s are part of the problem...stock tire diameter was 29".
That engine, new was rated at 165hp(155 in ca with the electronic q jet) and 285 ftlbs at 1800rpm.
Gearing is the key here.
Just unscrew it and make sure its clean, tip and passage. just snug it back down so you dont strip or crack the casting. Do you let the pedal back down, or do you have to hold it open till the temp comes up a little?
Doesn't really sound like a flood, more like starving for air. Black smoke when it finally fires?
Can you hear the fuel pump priming? I have heard of fuel relays freezing. I am assuming you have cleaned the IAC Passage, and made sure the Pintle is clean, and not burying its self into the passage.
I had an idea one time of getting a LWB GMT400 and 2 step beds...1 in good shape, one rearended. Extend the good one, and make a longstep 400.
Would really confuse the shit outta folks, and look pretty cool.
350's were equipped with 750 cfm qjets from the factory till 86. Engine won't really take more than it needs. Its the jetting thats a big issue, not cfm.
You will need to Tune the shit outta that TBI(small block TBI is only about 430 cfm) to run a ZZ4. I would recommend getting a ported TBI...
Gotta watch engines like that, cam may be spec'ed for power to come in at higher rpm. Useless in a truck, unless you change rear gears as well, and then any fuel economy that you had, is gone.
Also, 12hg of vac at 800 rpm....no good for TBI
Forgot to mention, it also helps with EGR and AIR controls.
For the most part though, it kinda takes place of the old school throttle kickers that would keep the throttle from slamming shut when there was a sudden increase in vacuum.
I would start going through the wiring harness, and see if anything is chaffing. That is the only intermittent possibility. All other problems are either there or not. A vac leak:Leaking or not, not every now and then. Know whatta mean, Vern!. LOL!