OK I am eliminating things. I thought it ran a LITTLE better with the coil off another truck. But still bad. But it was good enough to run for some diagnosis.
I can find a place with the choke mostly closed that it runs pretty good. Even with the truck reved up, it needs a good amount of choke, but will run. So either it really doesn't have enough coming from the fuel pump, or there is something about the carb messing with me. I rebuilt it, so it's entirely possible that it was rebuilt wrong somehow. So now I can focus on fuel, which ironically is where I started.

 

It's the new condensers that cause trouble these days, they are usually defective from the git go. Very common issue. Try an old one out of the junkbox.

 

Glad to hear you've narrowed it down!

 

Ok it is the carb or at least that is part of the problem. I knew after spraying that there was some amount of leak around the carb shaft. Taking it apart revealed that the shaft is very worn in one spot and the carb itself is very worn all the way around. I know there are bushing kits, but man there isn't very much material to work with on this one. So by the time I throw a shaft and bushing at this, and new gaskets, I will have at least another $65 into it with shipping.
So I am pausing on that plan. A new/rebuilt carb is sounding better and better. I have another engine from a different year with a Holley on it, but then I have to address the spark advance deal.
So my question is, stay the course with an Autolite 1100 or is there a better performing and reliable alternative I should be considering? Is there a preferred place that sells the rebuilt carb less expensive than others?

 

I am not opposed to ditching the LOM style distributer, and even uprgrading whatever I get with electronics.