After installing a comp cam- 268,edlebrock aluninum intake and a 600 eddy carb on the 361 I have the problem of not being able to get the engine to a decent idle speed. The engine in running at about 850 rpms to keep it running. At this rpm it sounds good but when I put it in drive, the engine barely wants to run,like its only running on a couple cylinders. When I close off the carb intake with my hands the rpms actually increase. I have since installed a new pan gasket with the .015 gaskets on each side of the pan with sealant. This has had no effects at all. I sprayed starting fluid all around the intake and carb with no effects. Checked all hoses and fittings, OK I cannot hear any sound of air being sucked in anywhere. I drove the car around with this problem and the timing set to 10 btdc. After I pulled out all the plugs and they were all a nice white-grey color.
I have been fooling with this thing for 3 weeks now and am totally disgusted. I'm in dire need of more help. Where do I go from here?
Alex in eastern ohio

I just went thru this recently with a topend rebuild, all the symptoms of a vacuum leak, like what you describe, for me ended up being a cracked heatriser passage in the intake manifold...

if blocking your carb/choking it off produces an increase in RPM, chances are your looking at a vacuum leak, as the carb or manifold are drawing the required atmosphere from somewhere else...the leak

I had same cam in a 440 and had the same issue. I tried with no luck to modify the carb on it to work. Eventually I swapped carbs and found one that the engine liked. Out of 3 carbs I tried it only liked that one. So even though I didnt really want to use that carb on that engine, I went with it.

Try a little more initial advance. If the torque converter is stock stall, it may need a higher stall.

Do you have the proper spacer/gasket/adapter under the carb?

What happens when you put your hands over the carb inlet? Did you degree the cam or install it dot to dot ?
Im betting on a vac leak under the carb...

The cam was set up dot to dot. I do have a new eddy 800 carb here but I thought that would be too large for a 361. Should I try it anyway? Like I said, I have sprayed starting fluid everywhere and had no results. I do have a fiber spacer under the carb with gaskets. Is there more than one dot on the timing gear maybe that I could have missed? I will try putting the car in gear and rechecking the timing to see if it drops back. I have no idea how to recurve the distributor if it comes to that. Alex

800 is not too big for a 361 (mother put 800 thermo Bogs on 318's)
You have to find that vacuum leak. All plugs on front and back of carb?
BB intakes often leak air underneath.
Vacuum advance on ported vacuum or better plugged for now. (it is only supposed to work at light throttle highway cruise)

Then My guess is is that the cam is not in right! did you roll over and check and check again after installing it??? often what looks right especially down in the car looks right but becomes obvious it's wrong if you turn a few times.


So if you a tooth off and the carb is turned way open to get idle up idle circuit will not work so it's lean! covering with hands can make a difference.

next even dot to dot todays cams and timing sets can be so far off they will not run right. Just degreed a cam in a 383 with a mancini timing set that was retared 8 deg's dot to dot!

are you seting the idel speed in drive or park???

You should be setting the idle speed with the car in D, and parking brake on.

I agree on the increasing the intial timing.

Jason

OK, now here is what I did. First thing is replaced the 600 with the 800 eddy. This was a great beginning. Now the car will idle and die quickly when I block the air inlet! I set the timing to 18* btdc. While in park and it stayed on solid. Then I checked the timing with the engine in drive and saw that the timing mark was jumping everywhere. From the 18^ to 0^ to 40^ or more. But it didn't seem to make the rpms bounce. I set the rpms to 700 in park and when I put it in drive it went to a solid 600. Do I still have a problem?
Also I wish I understood why the 600 would not work correctly on this motor, but thats another story I guess.
So guys what is with the timing mark jumping everywhere in drive. Or is this normal. Alex
Thanks to you folks I'm getting closer to having it on the road again.
Please keep the ideas coming!

Check the top bushing in your distributor sounds to me like the distributor is worn out??

Even though the marks are solid when in park???

Either dist is wore out of there is too light of spring in it.

This distributor is only 3 months old, mopar brand. I can't see or feel any play in it. Its a electronic unit. Where can I get stronger springs for it.

mancini, summit, jegs. any number of places. are you running light springs or are they what came in it? and you're right, a 3 month old MP dizzy shouldn't have any slop.

I just got soo excited about it running I had forgotten to tighten the distrib bracked bolt! Silly silly me When I saw the word (wobble) in Mikemee1331 reply it hit me.

Thanks each and every one of you guys for all the clues and ideas.I would never thought it would turn out to be the new Eddy 600 carb. Just wish I new why it won't work on this motor.
Thanks again, Alex in Ohio