440 runnin better

[mikerallye]

So, which do you prefer? And why?   

[nivvy]

mark start your car adn let it idle and spray some carb cleaner around where the intake ports are... look foor "bubbling" for vacuum leaks.......   

[71chally416]

So, which do you prefer? And why?   

I like Holleys, but I don't think they're any better than some other carbs like the new Thunder AVS's or even the old Thermoquads. If anybody has an 800 cfm Thunder AVS they can't figure out I'll trade you today for my Demon 750 vac carb with the nice fuel line kit installed. It's like new, better than a Holley and my 416 made over 500hp on the dyno with this carb. I'll put the original jets back in and include my dyno sheet. No returns, all trades final. PM me!

[71chmark]

I put the chrome ECU and new ballast on.  No improvement.  Checked for vacuum leaks and could find none.  Could hear/see spark at the distributor when I pulled each wire.  Checked the vacuum plug at the intake where the power steering would hook up if I had it.  When I pulled the plug and introduced a vacuum leak the RPMs increased.  Is this normal?  The sparks at the distributor capped seemed weak but I don't really know.  Misses and bogs when I try to cruise but responds somewhat when I accelerate although its jerky.  No smoke or backfire. Need to check the timing with a light and and vacuum level with a gage.  I just set the timing by ear.  Adjusted it to just before peak RPM.  There is something hugely wrong though not just fine tuning.  Gotta keep looking.

[nivvy]

RPM will change with vacuum leaks.... 

what does it look like under the dist cap..... 

[Chryco Psycho]

yes RPM will normally rise with a vacuum leak
 have yopu worked through my Holley tuning guide in the archives ?
 I am not sure what you are missing

[71chmark]

Distributor and cap is all new.  Looks OK.  I haven't worked through the tuning guide but I will.  I can't even get it to cruise at all without it bucking.  I can't believe the factory settings could be that far off.  I figured the tuning guide was for fine tuning not to get it to even run right at all.  I'm going to get a vacuum gage tomorrow and go from there.  I must be missing something.

[71chally416]

I can't believe the factory settings could be that far off. 

Believe it..... 

[Chryco Psycho]

ok here is a weird one , bring the engine to 14* before TDC & make sure the reluctor & pick up coil; line up , now carefully check the position of the rotor with the tower on the cap , I just ran into a car that had not run well for years & this was the problem , the rotor pointed between 2 towers & would fire the wrong cylinder

[moper]

like CP said, the reluctor phasing could be off. Do an ebay search, I think Freiburger used to sell a special reluctor to fix it.

[LAA66]

 Check all of the ignition wires while the motor is running. The "jerky and bucking" are definite symptoms of an electrical short or loss of continuity.

 As far as the plugs burning off the rich carbon, that would happen like right now, if things are running correct. Good luck.  

[71chmark]

The reluctor I was reluctant to cluck at so I tried it. I set the timing to just before the third line on the tab which I assume is about 14* (mine is all painted over but from pictures it should be 5, 10 and 15.  I adjusted the distributor so the pointy part of the reluctor was facing the pickup.  The rotor is pointing just a hair before #1 plug wire.  This would seems OK,what with all the eyeballing, but I did notice that the stab in the rotor all have firing marks at the very side edge. That doesn't seem right but I guess it could be from having the timing too advanced or what?  I had already thought of electrical shorting but I can't find anything obvious with the plug wires or battery cable.  Could it be something under the dash.  One part I haven't replaced is the voltage regulator.  Could this maybe be faulty?  I'm going out now to check the vacuum and the fuel pressure with my new handy dandy fuel pressure/vacuum gage.

[71chmark]

Didn't have the right fittings to check my fuel pressure.  I set the idle up high and it didn't run out of gas.  The vacuum reads about 8 inches at idle but was jumping a little.  *7 cylinder doesn't seem to be firing although there is spark at the cap.  It's just popping a little.  Would one cylnder out cause it to cruise so poorly?  I have autolite 85 plugs all new.  What is the possibility of a bad plug?  I cleaned it and checked the gap at .035 but no dice.  I have a new chrome ECU, new ballast, new engine harness, new plugs, new distributor and a new mopar performance coil.  Before I changed the heads due to what I thought were old springs and possibly bad lifters it cruised the same (actually bucked worse) I noticed the vacuum advance was tied up so I changed the distributor so I kind of doubt it's the distributor.  It seems to run good pretty good when I punch it so it's probably not weak spark although it sure seems like it.

[Moparal]

Did you do a comp test on #7 if not all of them?

[nivvy]

to low of vacuum for idle............