Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: PJ68RT]
#89422
07/16/08 12:15 PM
07/16/08 12:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,760 Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,760
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
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Are you disconnecting the vacuum advance and plugging the vacuum when you are setting the timing?
You probably need to shorten the mechanical advance curve in your distributor so that you can have about 18-20 degrees at idle and about 36 degrees total. These numbers are without the vacuum advance connected. How you do that depends on what distributor you have. Afterwards you can try with and without the vacuum advance connected to see which works best for you.
(edit) I just noticed you are in Denver. That might affect how much timing you need and how much vacuum you are going to get. I don't know but maybe someone else that lives at high altitude can expand on that issue.
Last edited by GomangoCuda; 07/16/08 12:20 PM.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: PJ68RT]
#89425
07/16/08 04:02 PM
07/16/08 04:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,675 Columbia, CT
moper
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,675
Columbia, CT
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Timing lights were invented to set timing. Vacuum gages set carbs. Sounds stupid, but truth is truth. You need maximum effciency at cruise, not idle. Make sure the vacuum advance is disconnected. Make sure that it is normally connected to ported (no signal at idle) vacuum. What carb is it? When you changed the cam... did you re-install the same intake? It sounds like it's not tuned right, but it could be a vacuum leak. That cam should idle lower, and still give decent vaccum. Was this engine ever rebuilt?
Well, art is art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water! And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh... Now you tell me what you know.
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: PJ68RT]
#89428
07/16/08 08:09 PM
07/16/08 08:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,320 Prospect, PA
BSB67
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,320
Prospect, PA
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Quote:
I should also say that the engine ran great with stock cam..good smooth idle, good vacuum, lots of low end. Its just now that i switched to the comp that i have started to have these problems.
First, that cam should idle much like the stock cam. Second, focus on the things that you changed. If you only removed and reinstalled the distributor and carb, I would not mess with them other than to make sure that you reinstalled them correctly. Challange and recheck your work that you have convinced yourself to be okay. I would start with looking for a vacuum leak. How did you check that the first time?
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: PJ68RT]
#89430
07/16/08 11:26 PM
07/16/08 11:26 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,732 Watertown, WI
MikeyT
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,732
Watertown, WI
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I got the same exact cam and it runs very smooth when in the car and this is t stock. I would look and make sure everything is set and no leaks.
Mike
1969 Dodge Dart Swinger
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: MikeyT]
#89431
07/17/08 12:04 AM
07/17/08 12:04 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 871 WA 98043
thecarfarmer
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 871
WA 98043
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Propane boost test will spot a lean condition.
If you haven't done anything 'funny' with the idle mixture screws, and IF idle mix had been adjusted correctly before pulling intake... then a vacuum leak would be the likely culprit.
Check tops of manifold to heads with water stream; also see if brake vac booster and other vac hoses are in good condition.
Good luck!
-bill
Seduce the attractive, and charm the rest.
******
489 C.I.D., roller cam, aftermarket heads, tunnel ram, stock '54 Dodge rear axle assembly: which of these doesn't belong?
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: thecarfarmer]
#89432
07/18/08 01:07 AM
07/18/08 01:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,234 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,234
Someplace you aren't
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Look for somethig stupid, like a vaccum cap knocked or left off. I've had a few engines that ran poorly after some work and found I had left a cap off when I was done testing it with the vaccum gauge
I want my fair share
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: moper]
#89436
07/18/08 09:29 AM
07/18/08 09:29 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Timing lights were invented to set timing. Vacuum gages set carbs. Sounds stupid, but truth is truth...
more people should use that advice. with those two tools, one can prolly solve 99% of engine problems. welcome back.
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Re: 440 engine tuning help
[Re: PJ68RT]
#89438
07/18/08 10:27 PM
07/18/08 10:27 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I run that cam in a 69 B body with a 440 and Holley Street Dominator (single plane intk) with a carter TQ. At 650 idle rpm in neutral (Detroit area) it generates about 13" of Hg. The cam does have an idle to it. You will know there is a cam in there. 18 degrees initial and 36 total by 2000 rpm. Idle feed restrictions opened to .037". That cam rocks. Good low end response and good pwr up to 5700 rpm.
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