I'm disassembling my 383 and need some feedback

[Chryco Psycho]

so it is worse with the new cam installed ?

[willard]

  yes

[moper]

you'll owe us all some pirogi....lol.

[Chryco Psycho]

Ugg

[willard]

I'd be glad to offer you some vodka for your help too 

[moper]

 

[willard]

I'm back, finally find some time to properly check the compression (hot engine, throttle open, all spark plugs removed). I also adjusted the timing to 18 BTDC @ idle and 36 @ 3000rpm (no pinging, vac advance disconnected&plugged).
Here are the results - the first number is achived after two compression strokes, the second after two more crankshaft revolutions. Sequence of taking measurement was 8-6-4-2-5-7-3-1.
1 cyl 110-125 psi
3 cyl 110-130
5 cyl 115-130
7 cyl 110-135

2 cyl 110-130
4 cyl 120-140
6 cyl 120-135
8 cyl 120-130

to sum up: timing is ok, carb 770 street avenger (68 jets), stock exhaust & intake, lunati 220/226 cam, 3.23 rear, 1800 brake stall.

So IMHO the faulty element is the converter...

[Chryco Psycho]

looks good to me 

[dodge freak 2]

If you want more power change out that 3.23 gear.

Even a 3.55 would make a noticeable difference and 3.91 gears would make it feel like a different motor. 

Depending on the rear tire height it still would be comfy to drive 50 mph...even 60 mph with 29 inch tires.

But how much is gas over there....my 318 motor with 3.91 gears gets 9 mpg is seems. (I go faster than 60 mph, and shift at 6000 min when floored) YMMV, lol. 

[willard]

it's 3.23 but I also have 14" rims which makes 25.1" wheel diameter. I think that it is not much and small wheel height should help with acceleration.
in city I can get 6-8 mpg, 15 mpg while cruising @ 50mph.

[dodge freak 2]

Small wheels help but I went from 28 inchs to 25.5 inchs with a 3.91 gear and felt the difference.

Going to 3.91 would make a world of difference...but then if your valve springs aren't up to 6000+ rpms the motor will not rev clean that high.

That cam you have would love it..with the right springs.

3.55 is a good pick too and more livable...but if you aren't going more than 60 mph 90% of the time..heck 4.10 gears you should have...with those tires...you will have problems hooking up in 1st gear..wheel hop you will learn about fast, lol.

Its not cheap to change gears thou.

(wish we could see and drive it...should not be too bad as it is now compare to other cars on the road)

[willard]

While waiting for a hi-stall converter I decided to check the ignition system once again as vacuum is not super constant (very little vibration) and longer trips (above 10 miles ) leave bizarre spots of something clear but greasy on the rear fender, definitely from the exhaust...
I checked another  the wires at the coil ... and I couldnt believe I could be so dumb! I connected + and tach to the "-" sied and the distributor to the + side of the coil! and it run and tach was working...
and wow +20% of power now!
tommorow i'll recheck the idle mixture and timing, hoping to get better performance... and then the hi-stall converter. I hope all my problem will be gone 

Guys, thanks a lot for all your help! Without this board I'd never decide to bring a mopar to Poland. It's all hanks to YOU.

[Chryco Psycho]

I am glad you are gettig things sorted out , sometimes the small details will bite you bad

[dodge freak 2]

I bet your ignition system and other stuff, carb, tuning is holding you back as well.

This hobby isn't cheap-good parts cost lots of money. Sure doesn't help living in Poland ha ha.

 

[dodge freak 2]

I will say like half the old cars I see on the roads here (those nice shape 40 year old ones) tend to stink while driving in back of them. So many motors aren't tuned right or have a misfire, vacuum leak, etc.

You talk to those owners (many in their 20's and 30's) they say old cars do stink a bit standing in back of them. No they don't--or don't have too, not once they are warmed up.