[70ragtop]

Wow, where to start.....

With your advance numbers, 35deg BTDC @ 3500 RPM, I would bet it won't start after 210 deg. Thats a little too much advance for a stock starter to overcome at that temp.

Three ways you can overcome this: 1) Heat up the car (to 210 presumabily) and back off timing until car starts freely (OK timing range for a daily driver) 2) Install a switch on the ignition coil to disable it while starting. Then after engine is rotating freely enable coil. 3) Install a high torque starter and leave the advance at 35 deg.

I am not a big fan of Holley Carbs at all, so I am of little help here.

Lets talk a little about Olds motors and temp here. It is not uncommon for ALL Olds motors to run hot. My 70 Convertible with a 350 runs on average between 210-220 on a good day with a 185 deg thermostat, flex fan, and 4 row radiator. I have had it as high as 240 on the highway pulling a trailer. In my opinion if you are running only electric fans you WILL have cooling problems with an Olds. Run a good shroud, a 4 row radiator, a corrisponding flex or high quality clutch fan, and put the electric fan in the front as pusher fans for the heavy work.

If you are worried about head gasket failure, start the car with the rad cap off. If water shoots out of the radiator, then you have a problem, otherwise lets look at other factors first.

The glowing at the headers leads me to think you may have a lean condition going on. This can also atribute to the idle problems.

Tell me a little about how you broke in the motor and adjusted the valves.