@R3N0 it sounds like you have a much better understanding of what’s going on now. And I’m glad you’re on the way to figuring it out. Once you get the basic tune in the distributor and the carb happy, because it’s a street car, you’ll want to add the vacuum advance back in. There is a drivability and mileage gain when you add the cruise timing back in.
I've thought of that, but at this point I feel that pushing an 8,500 lbs truck down the road isnt really gonna see much gain with the can. I could be wrong though... wouldn't be my first time :)