[88 coupe]

Originally Posted by Oldsproject

........ I've got it timed ATDC a bit and that's contributing ........

Unless you used an accurate timing light, there is no way you can know where your timing is.

........ my starter is dragging ........

Have it tested by your local auto parts supplier.

........ as if it's vapor locked (if that makes any sense) ........

It doesn't. Vapor lock causes a lack of fuel to the carb, and it would act as if it were out of gas.

........ after a couple revolutions it seems to pick up and fire ........

When it is hot, the cause could be too much advance. On cold a startup, timing wouldn't make any difference.

........ drains a brand new 750 cranking Amp battery to the bone ........

Have it tested at the same time you test your starter.

........ the starter just isn't enough for the newly rebuilt engine ........

Now, here is a good place to look. If the rebuild was done properly, the starter/battery would be the problem. If it was not? Wasn't there a discussion earlier, about you shops competence?

Remove the plugs and crank it with the starter. How did it react?

Using the appropriate socket, and a breaker bar/torquewrench, rotate the crank clockwise. How much torque was needed to get it started? How much to keep it going?

........ in order to bring the temp down ........

Anything under 200° is no problem. How hot did your gauge show it to be?

........ I'd hate to get this thing together only to find ........

It's very possible, something was damaged because you did not put it back together.

........ in order to compensate for timing chain stretch etc.

You probably overcompensated by 7x or so. Other than that, you moved your power band down a few hundred RPM. For your application, it will work OK.

Norm