More boring tuning questions

[78Suburban]

OK, I'm still working on the 350 that I think came out of a 73' camaro origionaly, then a k5. It has HEI, and I put AC delco 44 plugs gapped to .035". It is idling rediculosly high (I don't currently have a tach in it, but it seems high), and when I put it in gear (th400) it wants to choke down and idle a lot lower. As a few of you know, it was running like crap under load at 8* BTDC. I just put in a different HEI dizzy and plug wires and currently have the timing set at 12* BTDC. I have yet to try to drive it again, because this high idle is worrying me. Is the fast idle cam jammed on or something (I wouldn't know a fast idle cam if it hit me in the face)?

I hope that pulling the EGR and using a manual tranny carb isn't going to affect performance to the point that I'm gonna burn up a piston or anything. I really know nothing about tuning.

Am I using the right plugs, gap, and timing? I know its all trail and error, but I'm just wondering if I'm in the ball park. And I'm wondering how to remedy this wierd idling problem... I guess I'm going to go try to drive it, I hope I don't blow up.. lol
thanks,
James

 

[78Suburban]

ok, its running better with the new dizzy, but it still has a miss under hard throttle. If my plugs should have been .045" instead of .035", would that cause it to have a miss?
thanks,
James

PS: and I'm still wondering what to do about the rediculously high idle and the little bit of black smoke too

 

[pauly383]

Set the gap @ .045 , and turn the idle speed screw down some on the carb to start off with . Then recheck the timing . Then adjust idle speed again .

 

[78Suburban]

so just the screw right under the throttle linkage?
thanks so much for the advise,
James