Update on fuel issues:
I decided to take off the air cleaner and check the carb, vacume lines, etc. After consulting several different books, I think I finally got the vacume lines connected properly. But the big light bulb was a nipple on the top of the intake manifold that was supposed to have a 1/2 hose on it. Found that hose, reattached it and secured it with a hose clamp. With that large a hole in the manifold, I don't know how it was able to suck enough gas into the cylinders to fire at all.
With everything buttoned back up, I fired it up - had to back off the idle since it was set to keep the engine running running very lean. The engine runs much smoother now, without having to fool around with the accelerator. I let it run at idle for about 15 minutes and had no heat issues, even with standing still and no air flow through the radiator.
If everything goes ok, I'll take it down to Columbus Motor Speedway for an open test session, just to see how that engine takes loads.
Anyway, we got one finish in this year, and we are not last in the Area 4 Championship.