This is like asking how to adjust a blower belt because the motor seems to surge.

Bolt on stockish street car with a raceish cam. Seems straight forward and predictable to me. Who put that cam in and why? I didn’t see porting mentioned and if you are expecting to turn higher rpm with a cam like that I’d think you’d use 1 7/8 headers. Just looks like a mismatched cam and nothing more. I wouldn’t bother advancing that one.

Current cam is definitely to big 253@.050 I think the XE275HL would be much better with its 231@.050 I think you can make the current carb work with a good tune.

Even advancing the current cam wont help much IMO, that cam doesn't come into its torque peak until about 4300 RPM Its going to be lazy below that. A first gear swap will help, but more work then changing the cam. IMO, change the cam.

A 275/60/15 is a tall tire,try a 295/50/15 it will be a bit shorter and help gearing but you may need wider wheels. I agree on checking cranking compression and either advancing the cam if possible or a milder stick as suggested.

Yea, ditch your wheels and tires to go from 275/60's to 295/50's.

Good Lord.

A shorter tire was my main point from a gearing aspect,but you probably knew that

that tire change would be the same as changing to a 3.73 gear - it would help some but probably not as much as you'd hope. only a 5.18% change.

Bump the timing up to 38° and it'll wake up. My dad's road runner has 3.54 gears, hemi 4 speed, and a 10:1 440 w/ the 509/292 cam w/ 6 pack induction. It is a blast on the street and will roast the 275-60 tires. Has much better driveability than I expected it to have. I even put the cam in straight up instead of 4° advanced like most do. Timing is locked out at 38°.

I know my combo is a bit differn't with Indy EZ heads but my engine screams from 2000-5000 and my passengers are looking for something to hold onto I have a 3.54 gear and 2.66 low gear 4-speed with 29" tall tires. I've got a Performer RPM,Quickfuel 1050 4150 carb, Firecore distributor set at 24* base and 34* total all in at 2200. The cam is a very mild solid Comp grind XTQ series with 1.5 rockers. I just touch the pedal and the tires are smokin

Gus

Lot of good suggestions here!
If you can borrow shorter tires, do it!
Same with smaller carburetor, easy to swap with a 4 spd. no kick down to fool with!
My first 440 four speed swap felt "lazy"
A buddy loaned me a small AFB, really woke the car up on the street.
I had been running a Holley 800 double pumper.
Definitely check your cranking pressure, just do the easier cylinders!
Try advancing the cam, and check compression again before you put it all back together.
Of course I'm assuming you've got safe valve to piston clearance.
My car had the 2.47 first with a 3.55 rear, 245/60 tire.

Interesting thread. How much do you drive the car and where? Freeway? Just to cruise nights? Sounds like a bit much on the cam side to me. I've also heard the 3.54 gear wasn't a great performer down low for cars not set up to overcome the gear. I think changing tires to the 295/60 will help the pep, but I don't think you will like it if you drive it any significant distances.

All good recommendations here but they are stuff to try and band aid a problem of wrong combo of parts. Carb is not too big ,timing is safe where it is at , gear is good street gear, tires are not too big. cam is wrong!!! probably wants more compression and port work to utilize that cam. change cam to one that fits the rest of your combo better and you will be happy.

Without the OP providing more info about the cars powerband vs what he's looking for, the biggest (by far) problem with it not performing the way he wants is....

THE CAM IS TOO BIG.

Agreed.

We need a vid?

How does the car run when wide open?

Where have you been brother, Lots of input and some questions to help. But you've been I guess.

Don't worry about the rotating assembly or stroke length.

That's the Hard stuff to fix. Even with the best tune the 253*@ .050 cam is going to be a dog below 3500RPM, with a stick, Well unless you dump the clutch and let her rip.

With a high stall vert automatic you can make it work. IMO, a smaller cam change.

But it looks like you've decided to bow out of this thread.

If your tunes fine, Cam change is your Best bet.

Rotating assembly, stroke length. Shouldn't even be in the mix of thoughts for your fix.

This.^^

Simple. Cam's too big for what you want to have for other parts, and how you're driving it. Simple parts mismatch.