Drove my cuda for the first time :)

[The4ork]

Drove my cuda for the first time over the weekend. got her idled up pretty good, warm and took it out of the driveway and around the block... felt nice.

specs
72 cuda /w 70 340TA engine + 4spd manual
replaced 6 pack with rpm air gap and holley avenger 670 4bbl
286 246@50 .510" cam (sig erson)
unknown headers + coffin mufflers
10:1 CR



came back to the driveway for a jet change, it was leaving a smoke cloud behind if i rolled on the throttle a little bit. had a chase motorcycle, my friend was overly excited too.

went from a 68 jet on the holley primaries to a 65 set. seemed to stop the smoke. came back in to the driveway after the 2nd run around the block. engine sounded healthier this time. did a quick timing tweak and took it out again. opened it up just  a tiny bit. felt nice.

came back to the driveway for a slight idle adjustment. checked the plugs, still rich but i only had the 2 sets of jets :/ put the richer ones in for startup to be safe. better rich than lean.

seems like my starter is possibly binding. it drags when i first try and turn it over then it hauls butt till its started. - do you t hink i should try loosening the starter bolts and and give the starter a wiggle and retorque? maybe its binding a little bit? light coat of grease on the gear teeth? i already went up 2 sizes in battery cables. took the 6ga wires off and put 2 ga wires on. where is the factory ground location? i just have the battery cable going from the bat. - to the front of the head and thats it. should i add another to the chassis?

the only thing im worried about is how i have the valves adjusted. it was my first time ever adjusting valves and so many diff. people told me to do it so many different ways im confused as heck. what i did was screw the adjuster in until it started pushing "in" the hyd lifter, and then 2 turns, and lock it in place.

also tonight i took it out of the neighborhood to check all the gears in the trans, and 4th gear whines, like its a straight cut gear. it worried me at first and i put it back into 3rd. when i tried it on my way  home it whined for a second and then went quiet. what would cause this?

[PlumCraZRT]

also tonight i took it out of the neighborhood to check all the gears in the trans, and 4th gear whines, like its a straight cut gear. it worried me at first and i put it back into 3rd. when i tried it on my way  home it whined for a second and then went quiet. what would cause this?

The gears are ALWAYS meshed... you never really put it into/take it out of gear.  You really only engage/disengage dogs.  The dogs actually tranfer the power from the selected gear set to the output shaft:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission4.htm

I also think the "straight cut gears" thing is a bit of a wives tale (I've heard it myself).  I think they've been using helical gears for a LONG time.

[Chryco Psycho]

the starter will only bolt up in 1 position , it could be advanced timing causing it to lug while cranking , if you give it a shot of fuel does it crank over more easily ?
I cannot figure out the whine either , 4th just locks the input shaft to the output shaft putting no load on the counter  shaft which is used for the first 3 gears
I generally adjust the valve 3/4 - 1 full turn down , i assume you rotated the engine while doing this to TDC on each cylinder in firing position to set the valves , if not you would have the valve open on 5-6 in any given position   

[The4ork]

the starter will only bolt up in 1 position , it could be advanced timing causing it to lug while cranking , if you give it a shot of fuel does it crank over more easily ?
I cannot figure out the whine either , 4th just locks the input shaft to the output shaft putting no load on the counter  shaft which is used for the first 3 gears
I generally adjust the valve 3/4 - 1 full turn down , i assume you rotated the engine while doing this to TDC on each cylinder in firing position to set the valves , if not you would have the valve open on 5-6 in any given position

yes i rotated the motor. i didnt go to all the way to tdc, i had the intake off so i was just doing it on the opposite side of the cam lobe.

the starter boggs more if i blip the throttle while trying to start it. the timing adjustment seemed to fix that.

tonight im gonna pop the valve covers off and double check the tq on all my adjusters

[Chryco Psycho]

using the back side of the lobe is fine as well .

[The4ork]

ok good, i feel better now. im gonna do a compression test to check to make sure everything is within spec.