Got it running again, seems maybe the air gap was too large. Savannah, thanks for the pointer on the tech section and thanks for your patience. I should have stumbled on that myself! One trend I am seeing is that with the timing set for no pinging, the car will stumble and stall at low RPM under light load, also won't start. If I advance the timing, it seems to idle better and will restart, but along with that comes the pinging under load. I saw the chain and it is about 1 inch slack, and based on what I read here, is probably the source of that particular problem. Correct me if I'm not on the right track with that.

Do you know a trick to get the fuel mixture a little richer, I am pretty well convinced I am running lean, causing high cyl head temps and a hot engine. Octane here in CR is no doubt a little flaky, and plugs look like they have been run lean. Elevation here is around 2000 ft. Thanks, Bill

 

Be sure you have a 180F or 82C thermostat. Don't want to run without a stat. Viscous clutch should feel like bannana mush inside, when spun and released hot. Should no spin more than 1 revolution. Freewheeling means clutch has lost fluid, and has no torque. Will make overheat at slow speed and idle. Of course the rad need to be good, should have temp to to bottom on fins within 10F. Can be flushed and rodded out. Also need good coolant cap.

 

Looks like to me that the air gap was too wide, narrowed her down and started right up. Still have the timing issue, but I think I know where the problem lies. Thanks a bunch guys, ya'll are great. New thread soon for new problem, I'm sure! Bill