Found a replacement IAC for the MSD EFI ($13 including shipping from RockAuto, from some brand I've never heard of, but they can hardly do worse, and if they did, I'll go grab a few off of various GM applications that use this particular IAC at the salvage yard for about $2 each).
This is the last straw for the Mostly Starts Dammit Catatonic EFI. It'll be coming off of the car after the next good paycheck buys a new carburetor and fuel pump (or just the fuel pump if I can find one of the old Holley or Edelbrock 600-650cfm carburetors I know I have laying around and rebuild it) this IAC is just to keep it drivable until then, and so I can sell it as a working system.
Started thinking about the amount of rust in the cooling system, and the timing cover seal leaking, and the water pump leak that was there before but is now miraculously no longer leaking (I bet it's sealed with rusty gunk) and decide to price a water pump, oil pan gasket set, and timing cover set.
HOLY
! WHEN DID WATER PUMPS GET SO EXPENSIVE? Ford 302 water pumps used be all of $20-30 at the parts store, and now even RockAuto wants $53 for the CHEAP one.
Napa has a Cardone (bleh) reman for $42, or the guys on Ebay I got my TRW outer tie rod ends from have a Carter water pump for $35 that's new old stock.
Choices choices choices... an Airtex (never tried their water pumps, but their fuel pumps have been absolute dog
over the years) from Rock Auto for $53, a Cardone (it's not their water pumps I have a bad history with, its actually their power steering parts, but they've left a bad taste in my mouth over the years) for $42, or a vintage Carter pump for $35 that's been sitting so long that the seals may have dried up... or wait and see what the impeller on the one that's currently on the car looks like when I pull it, seeing as I do still have coolant circulation and it's not overheating in spite of the disgusting content of the cooling system.
It sure cost a lot less when it was just yard art...