Ok so I finally verified my timing and made a couple of mods to the current Holley.
I used a piston stop to check my balancer marks and TDC on the balancer lines up with the 0 mark on the timing cover. So that gives me a good point of references when I use the timing numbers on the balancer.
I have the timing set to 18* and I'm using the black bushing in the MSD distributor, so that should give me a total of 36* but it seems to go a bit higher than that. Keep in mind, I do not have a vacuum advance. I do have a 14 degree bushing on the way so I can bump the timing up a couple more degrees.
At about 700 to 800 RPMS at idle I get about 15 inches of vacuum and I'm idling much cleaner than before, but I also did some mods to the Holley to get it similar to the HP body. So far, the mods I've done have been positive. I just need to fix and off idle stumble and need a richer WOT and I would call it darn near perfect without needing a main body upgrade.
I'm still running some more tests and tune sessions. I'm also going to plumb a vacuum gauge to the inside of the car so I can see what the engine is doing as a I drive. Once I get everything dialed in right, I'll post all the data.
Here's how it's running now.
Oh...one other thing. I'm sort of ignoring the A/F gauge. I'm using as a guide, but I'm no longer shooting for a number. I'm listening to the engine to see what makes it happy. If I hear pops and feel surges while I'm driving, then I know it's probably too lean. I just look at the gauge to verify. Most the time, the gauge tells me the same thing I'm suspecting.