Are there any in-depth articles on the OBD1 system, im vaguely familiar with it and want to learn more on how it works and what it measures.
OBD is just a generic term for on board diagnostics that all cars implement. At its most basic level it is responsible for giving a warning if something is wrong that may affect emissions. If you want to get into Ford specific stuff then search for EEC-IV. That is the operating system that your era car would run on. This is a pretty good book and has been out forever so you might be able to find it at your library: https://www.amazon.com/Ford-Injection-Electronic-Engine-Control/dp/0837603013
I agree, good book. The good thing is, the upgrades on carbs, throttle body and port fuel injection are very similar, so just about any book will give a good overview, then use a brand-specific book to get the details.