Finally got to make a little progress on this today. Found a drive shaft for the AOD trans, put new u joints in and install it. Got the trans filled up with fluid.
Got the radiator installed and temporarily filled with water. Finish up a few other odds and ends. Went and pulled one of the batteries out of the 83. First attempt to start it, i had sparks flying everywhere. The cheapo negative terminal wasn't tight on the cable.
Got that fixed and tried again with a better outcome, only took about 10 seconds of cranking to get the carb primed and started.
Was running pretty good for having just dropped the distributor "close enough" to get it started so I let it run for about 10 minutes.
Couldn't figure out why the damn electric choke wouldn't turn off, after several minutes of screwing with it I just adjusted it so it wouldn't hold it open.
Decided to throw a timing light on it to go ahead and set the timing. Was sitting at about 11° btdc, so I left it alone. I usually set it at about 10 so I will fine tune it when I get it on the road. But while I was timing it I realized why the choke wasn't working, I decided not to install the alternator belt so there was less unknowns for the first start.
definitely felt like an idiot for spending all that time trying to figure it out.
After letting it run for about 30 minutes I decided to test the trans since it has been sitting for about 10 years. Put it in reverse, nothing. Put it in drive, nothing. Starting to get a little worried at this point, I checked the fluid. Nothing on the stick, ended up adding 5 more quarts. Get back in and try it again, I have forward and reverse this time. That was definitely a relief, still haven't driven it to find out if it will shift though.
Started trying to run the rpm up a little and it sounds good up to about 1100 rpm then it just hits a wall and dies. I am pretty sure it is a carburetor issue. There was a used carb kit in the truck when I bought it, so I am guessing someone screwed something up during the carb rebuild. I will tear it down tomorrow and see what I can come up with.
James