Still have not driven the car yet (doing a power brake retrofit, Classic Auto Air AC retrofit, and have already installed the subframe connectors) so every morning I start the engine to fine tune the cold start and now it starts right up.
Here are a couple of things that I learned and tweaked in the generic "street/strip" programming.
First check the timing using the Tuning -> System -> Static Timing and run the engine at 15 degrees BTDC to ensure the distributor is installed correctly. If the ignition is switched off the timing will automatically go back to the ignition curve in the program so if your timing light is acting up and you shut off the engine and then start it back up to do the 15 degrees procedure you will need to go back into Tuning -> System -> Static Timing and start over.
When the ignition switch is turned on you can hear the electric fuel pump buzzing and it takes 2.5 seconds for the Engine Control Unit (ECU) computer to boot up and at 2.5 seconds the handheld screen illuminates. Don't try to start the engine for 2.5 seconds (the point where the screen illuminates) otherwise the starter motor will need to crank until the 2.5 second mark.
After the timing is set correctly and everything is running good and you have done a number of warm engine idle sessions to the point where the ECU has learned its warm engine idle fuel MAP make sure to adjust the throttle stop set screw so that the Idle Air Control (IAC) position when the engine is warmed up and idling the IAC value needs to read between 2-10% with the engine running at idle in park without an AC on, if equipped. If the value is 0 the blades need to be closed until it reads between 2-10%, if the value is higher than 10% the blades need to be opened until it reads between 2% and 10%.
So now if the engine is running good when it is warm but the cold starting is not too great there are two things that you can fiddle with to dial it in and that is either "Fuel Prime" or "IAC Startup Position".
Fuel Prime is the feature where the ECU injects a squirt of fuel into the intake manifold before the starter motor is cranked and this shot of gas helps the engine fire off and it can be too much or too little. While you are waiting the 2.5 minutes you can hear the electric fuel pump buzzing and you will hear a quick click from the throttle body when the fuel prime is doing its thing.
-The IAC Startup Position is how far the IAC is commanded to open during the start and how long it will stay open after the start...here is what the book says:
IAC Parked Position (Cranking): This is the position the IAC motor will be at during cranking and immediately after the engine starts. If it is too high, the engine will be at too high of an RPM once it starts. Too low and poor starting will result. Note that this is a temperature based table. The percentage value changed in the handheld offsets this entire curve.
-IAC Startup Hold Time: This is the amount of time that the IAC will remain at the “IAC Parked Position”.
-IAC Startup Decay Time: This is the amount of time for the IAC to decay from the “IAC Parked Position” back to its “Target Idle” position. It is a linear decay
So if the cold start is poor the question is...is it fuel or air that the engine needs?
Here is one way to find out before you fiddle with the program...Give it a double or triple shot of prime and see if it starts better. When the engine is cold the first start of the day turn the key on and wait to hear the Fuel Prime click and then turn the key off and then do a "normal" start by turning the key on and waiting 2.5 seconds then crank the engine. If the double (or triple) shot of prime helped the cold start then go into the program and increase the value 20 percent.
If the engine kicks and then runs slow and rough and then you hear the air noise through the IAC increase as the ECU is telling the IAC to open up and then the engine begins to run better then it is the IAC Parked Position Cranking that needs to be increased and also the IAC Startup Hold Time extended.
Here is a PDF of the complete 76 page installation manual
https://documents.holley.com/199r11031r.pdf
So now to keep working on the car!!!