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There is also a way to use the TBI dizzy if it's similar to the ESC dizzy. There will be a couple of wires you snip and twist together. Once you do this, then it operates just like a standard 1974 HEI ingition where the ICM doesn't do any timing adjustments. So you'd then set your initial timing and that's what you got other then centrifical or vacuum advance.
And someone may want to confirm for me that can be done with a TBI dizzy too. I know it can ESC, but not 100% positive on TBI. I'm forgetting to much. Getting rusty.
Say what you want rich but your wrong. Get on line and look up the instructions for your self on the holley web page. I trust them more than you on this subject. This is how I have always hooked up my dizy un less I had it locked out. Why would they put the port for your distributor on the carb and have you use a different port? My current hot rod runs just fine like this.
On the torque converter subject... I am running a pretty large roller for a stock converter and have torque as soon as I touch the gas. It has more torque right off the bat than the old motor did. You can feel if I step on it the first 500 RPM are not as strong as the rest and I should be running a 2,000-2,500 RPM stall if I was drag racing or something but either way I still have more power off idle than the stock motor. I am running 214*/224* with .474/.474 lift and the cams your looking at are a lot smaller than this so I would not worry about not having torque off idle at all. As long as you pick matching parts you will have more power than you did before. Just make sure to match your intake and carb and don't over size either. You can axially over size your carb and not notice much if its a vacuum sec carb but too large intake can kill low end. I had a 725 road demon on a mild 350 with an RV cam and loved it but if it would have been a double pumper the truck would have not drove well.
Now switching over to a reg non computer controlled dizzy and carb do I just un plug the ECM so everything else will work with out it? That way when I go to fire it up it doesn't go apeshit on me and freak out?
I want to do what MadOgre suggested and get the carb and intake on with the new dizzy and dial in my timing before I put the cam in. That way the carb is all set up and no issues when I try and fire it up with the new cam.
My only concern was that the ECM may run some of the gauges. That sounds unlikely though. So unless you specifically need the ECM for something, which I can not think of any, just disconnect it completely and don't use it. The regular HEI does not need any ECM functions and does not have any provisions for the ECM.
If it were my truck I would simply remove the entire ECM from the vehicle, but you may want to retain it for later use? I dunno?
Did you find out if your block has roller lifters? If so, did you call Comp Cams?
Most don't even bother with the cover. But I have a few times I thought "Oh it has a cover it must have the provision" only to find out that it does not and for some reason it had a cover on.
I finally got the motor out and on the stand. Which it is non roller from the factory. But with it on the stand I was curious and I pulled the cover where the fuel pump would be.... And to my surprise there was a gasket and oil on the backside of that plate. Looked up in there and boom the hole is there for a pushrod and a oil journal into the oil pan.
Should I still stay away from a mechanical fuel pump and just run the in tank electric ones?(I have the 2 tank truck but only the left tank works currently)
Also would the 12-300-4 have the lobe for a fuel pump?
Yes the 12-300-4 has a mechanical fuel pump provision. I was pretty sure that the in tank pumps were not operated by the ECM? You know I have never owned an 87' but I would bet money that there is a larger 12 gauge red wire used for something to do with ignition on the 87 TBI. Most likely the lead to the coil. You are just switching it to a different location. Just use that wire for your power to the dizzy. The electric choke should be wired through the oil sending switch. If the in tank pumps work I would just get a regulator and install that instead of trying to suck through the in tank pumps with a mechanical fuel pump.