Cascade Crew

[chevymad]

Just spent a couple hours tuning on the 74. Things worked well!

I have one word of caution however. Be very careful when working around the front of the engine, especially doing things like timing. I was revving the motor while watching the timing advance so I could check the total. I have a good clutch fan, new belts etc.. So wasnt really worried. HOWEVER, a big chunk of one of the new belts blew off. Stung me in the nose, drew blood on the back of my hand, and got me in the armpit as well. If it had hit an eye i'd be blind. So I was pretty lucky.

Now on to the good stuff. I'd been hearing some pinging I thought so was going to back the timing off a bit. Had it set at 34* total. But I found an old advance weight/spring kit I bought years and years ago. Thought I'd work things over a bit. So I got the old weights/springs/center section off and lubed everything up. Installed the new center and tried the new weights.. new weights are complete crap. I've heard that before but now can verify for myself. So if anybody buys one of these kits for their HEI dizzy don't even bother with the weights and bushings. The center however works well with my original weights. I then tried one medium spring and one light spring for the advance.

Started her up, timing is waaay different. With this center section there is only 10* of mechanical advance. I think I need another light spring, comes in a hair late too i think. So for this first trial I set initial timing to 18* making a total of 28* (iron headed poncho's are prone for detonation with 9.5:1 compression) Added in my vacuum advance on manifold vacuum. 20* advance added.. I need to get an adjustable pod and back then down some. Though it seems to be working pretty good now. Then verified my starter will still turn over the engine with 18* initial.. and it does.

Now for the test drive! Starting from a stop the new tires bark like a seal in heat, then grab! Motor is smoooooth compared to before and much much quieter. I thought I had bad header leaks and always heard some tinging noise while I drove and even at idle.. Thats all gone. Was it detonation?? The quadrajet does what they do best.. sound like you have a tornado trying to suck the hood in. Shift to 2nd is soft.. but 2nd holds fine.. then 3d.. real soft.. some slippage out of the old th400. A rebuild is allready in the works. I run her up in 3d and still pulling real hard up to about 100mph. Need to get those speedo gears too! Looks like my fuel issue was solved by replacing some hard lines and a good 110gph holley mechanical fuel pump. Oil pressures high, temperature is nice and cool now.

I figure I could still use some more timing.. maybe 30-32* total. I've got to pull the dizzy and move it a tooth to get it though. Up against the manifold at the moment and didnt feel like changing that tonight. But things are looking up for the rusty mullet!

Anybody else out enjoying the summer weather finally?

[Alphius]

[aaron_sK]

When I recurved the Monterey distributor it was a night-and-day difference in power, idle, and engine temp. Glad to hear your getting her ironed out, Brandon.

[chevymad]

I don't know why a hei distributor from a smog 265cid v/8 wouldnt be curved properly for a high compression 400...

[aaron_sK]