When Holley first announced carb-replacement TBI, I was writing for Super Ford Magazine. I arranged to apply the very first dual four-barrel system to Brother Lon's '67 Mustang/427 combo. It took some parts swapping and some custom-fabricated parts to get the final combo together, and Jim Dove worked with me to create a set of TP components that included a factory dual-plane manifold first designed for the LeMans GT-40 effort.

The TBI systems now available are light years beyond those first systems in precision tunability and ease of use. I have no hesitation in suggesting that you look in that direction.

KS

Hey Barry---
What we've just seen in this thread is one of the reasons why this site is unique.

Jay, and all the rest of you, we're doing a good thing here.

KS

Don't feel bad. I once, many years ago, did a tune-up for a friend. Chrysler product with the huge fins. Got it all back together, and it wouldn't start. I went over it for close to an hour, including removing the diz cap multiple times. Finally noticed the brand new rotor laying over on the fender. Put it in and it started right up

KS

(On further examination, I see I should have looked to see who the  OP was )

Back in the '60s, it was not uncommon to run the pistons available at the time, for performance applications, with as much as .008 wall clearance. When I put together the 427 that went into my one year old '67 Cougar XR-7 GT I believe I used C8AX-C pistons and set them at .008. The car was street-driven on a daily basis. We did have Sunoco 260 readily available and I used a home-made methanol/H2O fogger system to eliminate a bit of crackle under low speed load.
(Used an adjustable Hobbs switch to trigger the fogger.)

KS

Joel, as the original 'Trunk Monkey', I'm sure you're always welcome here. You have seniority.

KS

While working on an engine at Roush's Prototype Shop, I learned that the common practice there was to make a plug from a cut-off fine thread bolt. The end of the bolt was finished to make full contant with the step and the outer end of the plug so fashioned was simply slotted so as to be inserted and tightened with a screwdriver.

To my mind, a threaded plug is superior since it can't be displaced by pressure. Why not be sure?

KS

While ECTA Land Speed racing in North Carolina, sitting in staging for a couple of hours in 105 degree plus temps, I found a 'Cool Shirt' to be a great blessing. It's a cotton Tee shirt with tubing attached all across the chest and back. The tubing is connected to a 12-pack cooler full of ice and water with the coolant pumped by a small 12-volt bilge pump. Under a triple-layer fire suit, while belted in place, it's a life saver.

KS

Supposing your new rods are slightly heavier, it would only be necessary to trim the weights slightly to be in balance. Depending on weight differential lighter, you might have some work to have done.

KS