As per my last post, Steve called today, and we had a good conversation. The question was at the point where a dialogue was needed instead of a "war of posts" in order to discuss the issue.
To update anyone following this thread, this is a summary of our conversation.
The engine seems to be fine except on low vacuum and low RPM extra load (i.e. hills). Steve has only a few miles on the engine. As fuel requirements are greater during breakin, Steve is going to look forward to decent weather, and put a few hundred miles on the engine on level interstate, of course watching for excessive water temperature. Hopefully, as the engine is broken in, fuel requirements will ebb to the point of the hesitation going away. Probably not going to happen, but engine does need more breakin for final tuning, and we can always hope.
Steve is aware he has way too much carburetor for the street, resulting in low air velocity in the carbs which is the problem here, but is willing to do some fabrication if necessary.
Since it appears that high vacuum metering is about right, changing the main metering jets is probably the wrong approach; therefore, if the hesitation persists after breakin, Steve will augment the main metering circuits by changing the timing of the power valve in the center carburetor. On the Stromberg 97, the power valve is actuated by the bottom of the accelerator pump depressing the power valve plunger, when the accelerator pump is "bottomed". To change the timing, a longer accelerator pump link will be fabricated to lower the pump of the center carburetor in the pump well, thus allowing the power valve of the center carb to be engaged before it normally would be engaged. This will richen the low vacuum mixture without richening the high vacuum mixture.
In the event that there is insufficent articulation in the standard accelerator pump to accomplish this, a new accelerator pump will be fabricated with a longer articulation.
And while I forgot to mention this to Steve, if this still turns out to be insufficient fuel, then the power valve of the center carburetor can be enlarged for a greater volume of fuel flow.
Steve, if I missed anything, please chime in.
Jon.
