Hi Alan, you probably don’t want to hear this, I have no authority or experience to rely on. I’m selectively optimistic, and I am being selective with my unsolicited input below.
I think you should seriously consider dropping a 3.0 carb motor in the car. Buy a known runner for $1,500 or less. Enjoy the car for a bit, and do a shakedown on the rest of the chassis wiring, suspension, brakes, etc. Your motor is a blocking issue.
Bench test the wiring, and the motor. That quote is $3,500 worth of work, but it is what I like to call the “happy path”, not a realistic final figure. Before you even mess with the motor, see if you can buy or build a stim for your EMS software. You can then build a 30 degree stand for your motor and test the engine wiring and tuning. If needed can wheel your motor to the shop and continue to enjoy your car.
Example Stim:
Assembled JimStim! Simulates multiple crank trigger wheels, easy breakout access to all signals, excellent testing and prototyping tool!
www.diyautotune.com
I’m also worried that after you get the engine to fire, it is still possible that you could have issues with the engine mechanicals. I know that you bought the s38 from a builder. Correct me if I am wrong, but he is not around to warranty the motor or address any issues. You could drop $4K on wiring and tuning only to discover a motor issue.
This doesn’t go away with the approach above, but it may be a way for you to protect and refine your investment while you decide on next steps for the motor and EMS.