Thanks for the help.
I will live with these low vacuum numbers, and learn,and work things as best as I can.
This engine combo has 10K miles on it now,and overall I am happy.I picked the parts, built,and somehow short circuited the vendor's questions pertainent to this auto trans app. (bought the 9550 cam/lifters used)That IT Took three stages of engine/trans drops,and interim cheap head use,auto trans repair/ rebuild exhaust backdate,sold my 914 to fund the heads,all good stuff to get this far, is due my sticking to the project. My not unlimited funds and partially informed purchasing have to be chalked up to experience.
I purposly built with 8.6:1 CR. Still gathering some experience on THAT.
So,Piss on! Colin.You bringup solid,insightful points, already have supplied solid advice, which other web places obfuscated, and vendors missed.Thanks to YOU and your IAC place in the web!
I only found it since I upgraded my phone,websurfed more easily in jan/14. Yes smartphone only.Had I been able to find IAC as easily as I do now,when I was scrimping,living in my shop to afford heat to envelop a shop @70° in which to engine build through winter,I would have made a better informed decision.
The 9550 cam came from a high altitude arizona T4 store customer who could not run it due to descending altitude increasing his dynamic CR. Cam and lifters,just broken in, 40$IIRC. He switched cams, and CR too.
He DID however split the cases and Do The Right Thing.( Desertbusman 72?) His downsides were much more dire however.
If mine are to cope with a chronic condition I will. Looking into how my trans pressures are affected, and working on FI pressure regulator/mixture adjustment, then ignition refinements are my path for 2014.
Right now the Westy's plugs look ok. mileage is good.power is as I have never enjoyed in this Breadloaf rescue.Starts great.Idles well.
Now exploring trans pressures & 3>2 downshift @40 that feels abusive and thats where I will work.
Am I going to split the cases? Not for the cam at this time. If there is a better cam for automatic?I am all ears.Thanks Bleyseng and Colin. Learning is something I still can do!