ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
As my old supervisor used to say, we're "in violent agreement." :sombrero:snip....
.... whereas you can pick up a GM alternator off the shelf at any napa/kragen/autozone you happen to be close to.
As far as a back to basics rig concept goes, a smog legal Weber will be much easier to work on. I'm no carb expert but I have tuned more than a couple and I've no desire to open up my OE carb. No first hand experience but I've read that the smog legal Weber removes a fair amount of vacuum plumbing and that would certainly be welcome!