The thermal valve shouldn't affect anything until it is overheating already.
But not having the vacuum restriction is going to cause the advance can to react too quickly to manifold vacuum.
Having to feather the pedal until the truck will stay running makes me think the fast idle cam is not set right.
Now that you have a tach, you have a better idea.
1,100 RPM is about where you'll be on a cold morning (highest step of the cam)
Tach looks
great, BTW!
Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.