i just brought a 400/512 engine big block.everything is new.timing at 34-36 locked,holley 1050 brand new carb from thumper.using 91 pump gas 10.5 compression.i went over this so many times..,check valve adjustment,took apart thumpers carbindy intake,total flow 270 heads.everything brand new.7 psi fuel pressure.engine wont idle no matter what i do to the carb.and headers glowing red.i brought this motor of hoping to go racing one more time in my life.i have that red 71 dart for sale in the for sale section.couldnt sell the car so i got a motor for it.now have 25k in this car.and all this

Id guess you have a bad vacuum leak somewhere if the timing is right.

Are you sure the timing mark is correct?

Check plug wires even if they are new ohm them had bad wires right out of box and make sure when installing the plugs you didn't bump one and close the gap up

You timing is retarded.....Give it some more initial advance and that will go away

I’d be verifying everything about the timing was correct(and that the distributor is indeed locked)...... including the timing light.

fast 68.i went over everything for days.its set and dist is locked.plug wires not crossed.its hitting on alll 8.wont idle have to keep reving it to keep it running

al how do i get it initial advance if its locked.yes fast 68 used a timing light

Have you tried doing a compression test on a couple cylinders?

Verified the timing mark on the damper is correct?

Use a piston stop to confirm TDC mark on the dampner prior to using a timing light. Try another timing light. Just because everything is new doesn't mean it's good. You may want to smike the intake and confirm no vacuum leaks.

If it is ALL the tubes glowing it is TIMING period. You might wanna check and make ABSOLUTELY sure its not 180 degrees out as well. TDC on COMPRESSION stroke. Also that the distributor cap is truly on number one at TDC. If its ALL the headers its timing.

al if it was a 180 out it would back fire though carb aqnd not run at all,yes all headers glowing red.have to keep giving it gas to stay running.and this is a brand new build

fast 68.will do a compression test on it sunday

Most likely a timing problem but try a different carb just because that is easy to do. Could also be the cam timing if you didn't build the engine.

andy,i dont have another carb to try.you might be on to something with cam timing

I just updated one of my 440's to an electronic ignition. I had never previously had a timing light on it as it ran great from the moment I purchased the car. Put in the new distributor and couldnt get it to run right without putting an excessive amount of timing in it. After checking to make sure the balancer hadn't spun, I looked at the timing tab. I had a couple other big block covers around, so I laid one on the bench with the TDC mark at 6 oclock, put a piece of masking tape around the balancer and marked TDC on the balancer and the 0 degree mark on the tab. I did the same thing with the engine in the car I was working on. I removed both pieces of masking tape, laid them flat, and the distance between the marks was over 1 1/2" from one to the other. It equated to a 22 degree difference so I ended up having to put a dial back light on it. Total timing reads 57 degrees, but in actuality is 35 degrees when accounting for the 22 degree difference. At first glance the tabs looked to be in the same place, but clearly they weren't. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on, but as someone else previously mentioned the timing tab could be mis located and not be overly obvious at first glance.

Double check floats aren’t too high

Tdc is easy to check. I feel like it's timing but a vacume leak could be helping the problem. .

has see through floats glasses.its ok,has stock timing cover and tab.has brand new,ati damper.i checked compression ok,and tdc.when you google the problem which i have many times trying to find something i over looked.it comes up more the timing is retarded.which andyf made a point on that.i brought a complete engine.i dont know when they installed the timing gear too much retard was put into it.everything checks out on the outside

You might as well start from the bottom up, pull the front cover check the crank gear and timing chain alignment there might be an offset key installed the wrong way if they still make them or a multiple key way sprocket installed wrong, find TDC and reset your distributor and double check the lock out and rotor phase. Doug

roden.i went over the lock out and rotor phase a few times at tdc.i understand i will have to pull the front cover.but can get off balancer in car as the rack and pinion is there.engine must come out.at this point im not sure if i will keep this any longer.this drag car will still be for sale.i cant keep on dumping mney in this im maxxed out.i thought i wasw getting a deal as the motor was local and brand new.this car is still for sale roller or as it is with this problem.the car is listed here under race cars.its a red 71 dart drag car car.if i pull the motor it will be in the fall.very much of a let down.THE MORAL OF THE STORY.NEVER TRUST ANYONES WORK