I am new to this; but it looks to me like this 81 has many unnessary parts,

o2 sensor, 2 charcol vacum filters, vacum boost, ect.. It has only 500

miles on new motor and trans should I consider retroing it to pre mid-

seventies and eliminate these potential systhem failures?

I desire dependability more than optimal performance, but I can live with

this "stuff" if someone can make a good argument for them.

Charcoal cannisters are not "unnecessary". What do you refer to when you say "vacuum boost"?

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Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

If it's going into an early body, use the manifolds and distributor off of the old motor and you're done. Any sensors in the head you don't need can be removed and plugged.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

there is a plastic part about the size of a distributor cap mounted to the head behind the carb that says "vacum amplifier," there are vacum hoses and wires that go to or come from the spark control on it.

My question more specifically is what should I get rid of besides the spark control?

That is the EGR control system. Leave it alone for now. It should be hooked to the carb, not the computer.

Later on after you nix the leanburn you can unhook the EGR and tune your ignition advance to do away with any subsequent pinging.

It really isn't hurting anything though if it is working properly.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

what do I do with all of the electrical wiring on the computer.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure but succeeding at something that doesn't matter.