Is there another lube reservoir in the snout I need to know about?

No

is the stock boost gauge port on rear of intake a good location for vacuum readings as well? Autometer only supplies a boot and vacuum gauge. Would the vacuum reading under the blower be accurate for what the carb is seeing? There isn't a port on the QFT carbs for a vacuum line.

The carbs are prob not boost referenced. The signal the carb sees will not be the same as the manifold signal.

the port on the manifold will show boost/vac that is in the manifold.the carb never sees boost,only different amounts of vac.

You are correct, not boost referenced. So I'll have to drill and tap a vacuum port into the carb or into the top of the blower at the carb flange?

Boost referencing the carb is not mandatory.

So the carb doesn't see boost only zero vacuum, I get that part. But as to what MT said the vacuum reading at manifold will be different from the carb readings so how do I decide on the proper power valve? I know I'm far from this point right now but just thinking ahead.

I'd start with about an 8.5 or even 10.5 PV. I've been running non boost referenced carbs on a fee different blower setups for years. I do like boost referenced but they can work just as nice without it.

The big no no was the fear of a PV being sucked shut by vaccum when non referenced. On a 177 making 5psi and a dominator, that scenerio is extremely unlikely.

I like when you buy used carbs and they were boost referenced and you don't catch it or told they were on blowers.:crazy: