Attention: TDR Forum Junkies EDMs + properly adjusted valves + correct tiiming= 
Finally got around to checking the timing this weekend. Turned out I had, until a week ago, been runing it about right. I had to put a wire extension on the gauge I borrowed from JELONARD, and have Mom hold it into the pump hole while I turned the engine to TDC. After 3 times at the same setting of the pump vs pump housing, and being within . 001" (SAE gauge; just multiplied by 25. 4 to convert to MM) each time, I decided I was at ~1. 7mm. Figured if the IC guys run 1. 5-1. 6, my nonIC truck could handle a hair more, and I plan to return to high altitude someday.
ANd I figured, "since I already have the engine at TDC, why not pop that #1 valve cover and check the valve clearance?" So I did, and Mom noticed the amount of effort behind my "slight drag" on the feeler gauge, and I asked her what wuold be about right? SHe said she learned from being shown how to do points that "this" would be about right. (so she moved the feeler, and I loosened the screw, then tightened till she said WHEN). So I redid them all, as they were all about . 001" too tight.
Took it for a test drive, and noticed immediately it was smoother than it had been, even with stock injectors or the EDMs. Got out on the blacktop, and I got threw all the mud off the tires, and did a 2nd gear start, flooring it as soon as it got rolling good. Barked a good bit, not quite a burn out, maybe a complete trun of the tires. Peak boost remained about the same- 36 in 3rd; 39 in 4th; 40 in 5th by 70 mph. Need to borrow the 50psi gauge out of my old 93 W350 and see what it peaks at doing 80. Smoke was cut drastically. Went from leaving a black cloud with the old stockers to a light haze at WOT, boost needle nearly jumping from 10 to 30psi. As long as I keep it under 30psi, I have to really look for ANY smoke. Keep in mind I'm reasonably sure this pump has 267K on it, and the head has 6 cracks in it, so these test runs may not be the best idea I've had to date.
EGTs are a LOT lower than before. The EDMs with my shadetree tiiming and too tight overhead jobs dropped temps about 50-80 across the board. But now, it runs about 100-150* cooler at cruise, depending on how fast I'm going. Peak at 40 psi is still shy of the 1250 redline on my pyro, empty. I am sure that towing, I could heat her up just fine. At 62 mph, I ran 725/8-10 psi @32deg; now it's more like 600/7-9psi @32deg or so. EGT will still climb almost as fast, but levels off quicker, and drops faster. Cooldown time is almost no existant- by the time I use a gear or two to slow down in town, I'm below 300 deg by the light. I used to (with the stock injecotrs) have to wait up to a minute for it to drop below 300.
So, I would highly recommend them to anyone after more power and reduced smoke. MPGs havent come in yet with the new tuning, but even with tight valves, and a slightly agressive advance, I was getting 18. 5-19 mpg, mostly in town. I'll give you an update later this week about that. WIth my reduced EGT, I should see 20 this time around, and I'm not babying it. But I'm not doing hel!forleather smoke runs, either. If you are after raw power, and dont care about smoke, it will be a judgement call on your part how much you want to spend.
BACKGROND- I had originally contacted Rip after installing the MACH1 EDMs, and said they still smoked like a steam train climbing a mountain, and the EGTs were too much for my pump settings, but give me a week or two to check timing and valves, and I'd get back with him; maybe have Don (at DOn's offer) make a set that flowed the same as stock. Apparently, he missed that last part, because I had a box on my doorstep about a week and a half later. So I put them in, and have no regrets. I can still outrun the ricers, outpull a big block V8, and keep up with a (obviously) chipped PSD auto, and me shifting as slow as a big rig (yes, I use the clutch, too), so as not to grind my gears. Now that I'm timed and cleared, maybe I'll see some fantastic MPG gains. East Coast Jay, you may have messed up by not going with these. Maybe you can ship your Bully Dogs to me, I'll put them in Mom's truck to compliment "your" 18cm housing.
Daniel
Finally got around to checking the timing this weekend. Turned out I had, until a week ago, been runing it about right. I had to put a wire extension on the gauge I borrowed from JELONARD, and have Mom hold it into the pump hole while I turned the engine to TDC. After 3 times at the same setting of the pump vs pump housing, and being within . 001" (SAE gauge; just multiplied by 25. 4 to convert to MM) each time, I decided I was at ~1. 7mm. Figured if the IC guys run 1. 5-1. 6, my nonIC truck could handle a hair more, and I plan to return to high altitude someday.
ANd I figured, "since I already have the engine at TDC, why not pop that #1 valve cover and check the valve clearance?" So I did, and Mom noticed the amount of effort behind my "slight drag" on the feeler gauge, and I asked her what wuold be about right? SHe said she learned from being shown how to do points that "this" would be about right. (so she moved the feeler, and I loosened the screw, then tightened till she said WHEN). So I redid them all, as they were all about . 001" too tight.
Took it for a test drive, and noticed immediately it was smoother than it had been, even with stock injectors or the EDMs. Got out on the blacktop, and I got threw all the mud off the tires, and did a 2nd gear start, flooring it as soon as it got rolling good. Barked a good bit, not quite a burn out, maybe a complete trun of the tires. Peak boost remained about the same- 36 in 3rd; 39 in 4th; 40 in 5th by 70 mph. Need to borrow the 50psi gauge out of my old 93 W350 and see what it peaks at doing 80. Smoke was cut drastically. Went from leaving a black cloud with the old stockers to a light haze at WOT, boost needle nearly jumping from 10 to 30psi. As long as I keep it under 30psi, I have to really look for ANY smoke. Keep in mind I'm reasonably sure this pump has 267K on it, and the head has 6 cracks in it, so these test runs may not be the best idea I've had to date.
EGTs are a LOT lower than before. The EDMs with my shadetree tiiming and too tight overhead jobs dropped temps about 50-80 across the board. But now, it runs about 100-150* cooler at cruise, depending on how fast I'm going. Peak at 40 psi is still shy of the 1250 redline on my pyro, empty. I am sure that towing, I could heat her up just fine. At 62 mph, I ran 725/8-10 psi @32deg; now it's more like 600/7-9psi @32deg or so. EGT will still climb almost as fast, but levels off quicker, and drops faster. Cooldown time is almost no existant- by the time I use a gear or two to slow down in town, I'm below 300 deg by the light. I used to (with the stock injecotrs) have to wait up to a minute for it to drop below 300.
So, I would highly recommend them to anyone after more power and reduced smoke. MPGs havent come in yet with the new tuning, but even with tight valves, and a slightly agressive advance, I was getting 18. 5-19 mpg, mostly in town. I'll give you an update later this week about that. WIth my reduced EGT, I should see 20 this time around, and I'm not babying it. But I'm not doing hel!forleather smoke runs, either. If you are after raw power, and dont care about smoke, it will be a judgement call on your part how much you want to spend.
BACKGROND- I had originally contacted Rip after installing the MACH1 EDMs, and said they still smoked like a steam train climbing a mountain, and the EGTs were too much for my pump settings, but give me a week or two to check timing and valves, and I'd get back with him; maybe have Don (at DOn's offer) make a set that flowed the same as stock. Apparently, he missed that last part, because I had a box on my doorstep about a week and a half later. So I put them in, and have no regrets. I can still outrun the ricers, outpull a big block V8, and keep up with a (obviously) chipped PSD auto, and me shifting as slow as a big rig (yes, I use the clutch, too), so as not to grind my gears. Now that I'm timed and cleared, maybe I'll see some fantastic MPG gains. East Coast Jay, you may have messed up by not going with these. Maybe you can ship your Bully Dogs to me, I'll put them in Mom's truck to compliment "your" 18cm housing.
Daniel
Seems like now, it's always, "Daniel, my truck is making a funny noise. What is it?" 
