SPArKy_Dave

Is that a proper vacuum gauge?... the scale appears to be in reverse. I'd expect around 18inches of vacuum at idle or better. This is my XF wagon, vacuum and oil pressure, around 2,000rpm

Crossflow rocker cover gaskets, usually cost $10-15 Cheapest over-the-counter place I found for them, was Rarespares As in it won't idle properly? Do u still have that vacuum gauge?

Assuming it's an EST Distributor still, the large 3 pin plug, usually points towards the front of the car, slightly towards the passenger side headlight. Do u have a pic of your one?

You'll need to find one, which has a Weber carby adaptor (oval shaped hole). Ebay usually has one or two listings.

U mean the rotor is pointing at the 'Start' line on the dizzy spacer, or physically at no.1 cyl? Could also have it timed 180degrees out? (do one more crank revolution, then point rotor at start line)

Doing this ^, without first removing the distributor, is what's likely jammed it.

IWIS or Romac (Rollmaster) usually do good chains. Crow brand is one of the above, in a crow cams packet.

Stock XF exhaust is 2inch I think? @deankxf Pretty sure my XE stock exhaust, is 1.75inch? And from memory, XG/XH is 2.25inch. A crossflow's main strength, is low-down torque. To my knowledge, a too large exhaust diameter can make it doughy down low in the rev range, negating benefits of a mild cam.

IMO, x-series utes are quite loud in the cab, even with a stock exhaust. At the most, I'd probably go with either one size up in pipe diameter and stock style (tri-flow) mufflers. OR Stock pipe diameter, with a chambered muffler. XG ute stock/factory exhausts are pretty much direct fit, but larger diameter piping.

Performance Ignition Services in Nunawading Vic, is the only place which has the proper ones brand new. Hunting idle, could just be a vacuum leak, a slightly sticking IAC valve, OR as you've suggested - unsteady timing.

I'm unsure on the best break-in oil, for every-day oil, I run 15w40 Diesel (mineral) oil, as it usually has higher levels of zinc, etc.

Green/Red is permanent 12v ignition, and also powers the carburetor's choke coil and carby fuel-cut solenoid I believe - @deankxf? (sometimes also tapped into, for LPG converted vehicles) Pink/Blue is the tacho wire, only in use when running a tacho cluster. The EST has a wire to the carby throttle stop (basic on/off TPS) Three wires to the distributor in one connector A 12v supply, a negative wire to ground the coil as required an A/C compressor on/off reference wire to bump timing/idle speed plus a couple of wires to a diagnostic connector, near the brake booster

Carby XF's have a mechanical fuel pump. Does yours have a custom setup? If there's underlying wiring issues, a new distributor may not solve the problem.

Have u tried fitting a replacement proper EST distributor? The Bosch Electronic Spark Timing systems are fantastically simple, and rarely if ever fail. Hall effect sensors inside the distributor do fail on occasion though.

Any 14inch ford wheel will fit. From any XC/XD/XE/XF, or even EA/EB's - which also ran 14inch steel wheels. Most were 14x5.5inches, and the later ones 14x6.