[ThreeNuts]

I owe you all a follow up!

Engine runs very smooth. Have put just under 200-miles on it and it runs great.

Two issues. The first is an older one, but still here after the rebuild: Has to be a carburetor issue: it's stumbling a bit when drifting along on neutral throttle at low speeds, and there's a momentary hitch that feels like the accelerator pump is starting to go bad when giving throttle...but while the engine was out, I cleaned and rebuilt the carburetor and it has a new pump in it (the old one was worn through at one point on the leather). The stumbling at neutral throttle - I replaced the metering rod springs - apparently, they should be done at every carb rebuild; this is the factory 4034S, I've had the car since 2000, and I'd never replaced them. They're not in a rebuild kit, so I got a couple sets (one from Mike's) and also picked up a couple pistons in case the springs didn't help. They didn't.

I pivoted first - acquired, cleaned, adjusted and installed another '66 4034S, transferring the accelerator pump (the piston was worn out the same way!) and new metering rod springs. The stumbling seems to be gone, but the slight hesitation is still there. May get another accelerator pump.

Second issue is new: cold start is fine, but at hot start, there's about a half-second of what sounds like valve clatter as it lights but before it catches fully. This is not a 'dry start from sitting' - type thing; only hot starts, and it is momentary.

I set the timing about 2-3-degrees retarded (no vacuum) at the recommendation of the builder, who found heavier wear at the top of the cam bearings and suspected detonation (valves & heads are fine). Is this causing that? Acceleration ain't what it was set this way, and the old man in me wants to advance it a bit.

I also never checked to see if it was actually at TDC for ignition or exhaust (the timing was set right a 0, and I verified visually that the #1 piston was at TDC before installing the distributor). Pretty sure it wouldn't run if it was wrong.

Thank you all for your inputs, critiques and wit! I now have a $7000 paperweight, but she's back running!