Speaking of distributors. I just had my 390 rebuilt by a machine shop. Installed the engine last Sunday. Bought a new stock distributor. When I went to install it. I found that the intake hole for the distributor is off enough that there is a .020" gap between the rubber seal and one side of the hole.

What to do?

 

Loosen the intake bolts and let the distributor center itself in the hole. Then retorque the intake and hope the gaskets seal again. Otherwise you may have to take it off again and redo the gaskets.

 

if you are useing iether and edelbroc or carter afb the distributor vacume port is on the left front of the carb. and some holly carbs are the same the stock carb is set up fo a dual vacume advance on most fe blocks the port with little vacume at idel is the one that brings the distributor back to home and that ports vacume drops off when you give it throttle. as for the use of some good advance springs i would use some of a early 70's powerwagon. mine starts moving out at 2200 and fully out at 3100 works for me

 

have a welder build that side up with brass welding rod if its a cast manifold and slowly use a dremel to grind it back into proper shape it works if its aluminum get a now manifold because it is warped on occasion you can find a good manifold at a wrecking yard that isnt warped hop it helps

 

hey you might have a warp mounting surface take a ruler across the bottom of the carb and the top of the manifold mating surface use a flash light on one side and look at the otherside for light under the ruler if you see any it is warped and need to be planned or filed when of the engine. if both surfaces are flat then iether your fuel pump cant keep up with the carb or you have a bad condensor or coil on the ignition causing a misfire after the engine is wamed up and used abit. The fuel pump is a common problem all so check the fuel filter.