Thanks Ross, that’s the advice I was looking for. I’ll have a custom curve done on the distributor next month, it ought to run fine.

This should be child’s play for most of you, but I find this place is the best resource for all things FE!

1) What, if any, issues might arise from using a steel .020 shim type head gasket to up the compression a bit?  I will be changing the heads anyway, so wouldn’t that help the little engine?

2) It’s getting a Performer 390 as part of the deal, and I already have a nice C9AF-U 735 carb that Drew built.  Is it too much carb, or would something like a 600 Summit carb be a better fit? (I do like the 4100 style, got one of those too but I just don’t want to struggle to get it tuned properly.)

The 360 is in a ‘65 T-bird that’s otherwise stock and will pretty much stay that way.  (I know it’s gonna be slow, just trying to make it smooth and reliable.)

TIA

Have you reached out to Holley?

Christmas is getting close, is Santa coming?

Since you say the engine acts the same with both carbs, let’s assume they’re not the issue.  If it “starts fine when cold”, when the mixture is rich, and then doesn’t want to run when warm, perhaps you have a small vacuum leak that’s leaning it out.  Use some starter fluid with a tube on it and try spraying specific spots.  Check your vacuum hoses and connections as well.  If you have a leak the engine should rev up some when the starter fluid is sucked in.

I have a distributor pulled from a '74 (?) pickup and rebuilt for use in my mild 390.  I told the shop what the application was, and on delivery I think he said it had 15 degrees centrifugal and 12 degrees vacuum advance (I may have those turned around...)

Anyway, he provided no testing documentation and I'm concerned the advance curve may be inappropriate for my car and engine combo. '65 Thunderbird, .040 over 390 at around 9.5 static comp, C4-G heads, streetmaster, Lykins custom cam, 735 Holley.  I've tried to decipher the distributor ID: C5TF 12127, 4KD, but am only ASSUMING it's a truck dizzy.  Were the advance curves customized from Ford for each application?  What springs/weights would be the closest match to my needs? 

TIA, Jeff

Not sure if that cruise-o-magic is going to live very long.

OK, coming from left field...

Many years ago, I inherited a 1940's Johnson outboard that came in the trunk of an old Ford.  Frozen solid, wouldn't turn over.  My shade-tree mechanic buddy suggested I pour Coca-Cola into the spark plug holes & let it work.  VOILA! Success!  It even ran afterwards.

You could try dumping some on just to see...  Probably too messy.