If they were over tightened what problems would they cause? I am having a terrible time trying to figure out a problem. The car will not quickly return to low rpms when you "rap" it. ALso an extreem loss of power....could it be the clutch? 350 10:1 prolightning 64cc heads, vr JR, edelbrock (Brand new) 600 (6.5psi) brand new distributor long tubes and 3:42. car ran a 15.8 with a 2.8 60ft @ around 91mph, motor ran a 13.2 @104mph with a 2.0 60 ftin my other car with an auto. I am completely stumped! HELP!

The vic Jr and the 600Edey carb sounds like a serious mismatch, but whatever. First thing I'd check the distributor for a missing / weak advance spring. Sounds like it's ideling high enough to jump into the mechanical advance just of idle. Check the initial, then rev the motor and see if advance settles back down. Then check for vacuum leaks. I bet if you moved the vacuum advance over to the timed port it would simplify checking things further.

Sounds like a classic vac leak to me as well.

I think you'd smell a clutch that slipped that bad.

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70 SS 454 CI Dynoed 684 HP, 702 TQ All Aluminium Fuel Injected Small Block , plus 200 - 500 HP NX nitrous system.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Marv Davis:
The vic Jr and the 600Edey carb sounds like a serious mismatch, but whatever. First thing I'd check the distributor for a missing / weak advance spring. Sounds like it's ideling high enough to jump into the mechanical advance just of idle. Check the initial, then rev the motor and see if advance settles back down. Then check for vacuum leaks. I bet if you moved the vacuum advance over to the timed port it would simplify checking things further.</font>

Will do a little more poking around, but the distributor is BRAND NEW. Didn't change any springs or weights. As for the vaccuum, I just redid the manifold gasket, I locked out the vac advance on the dist, so the only vac line would be the brakes. But still to be losing THAT much power? The total is set at 36, Initial seems to be at 18ish.

thanks for the response http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

You have to be VERY CAREFULL with intake gasket selection when using ProTopline heads.

The ports are very tall and narrow -- your standard Felpro 1205 intake gasket is too short and will leak at the top of the port. This will create a massive vacuum leak and symptoms like you describe.

We experienced a problem with the 200cc ProToplines using a Vic Jr intake. We wound up using a Felpro 1206 gasket which has the correct height. The 1206 is way too wide but it still seals so no biggie.

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Mid 11's on pump gas, all motor . . . and no trailer.

If you had the valves tightened so far down that you were hanging them open it wouldn't ever idle right. It would idle like a top fuel car at all times.

If they're down a ways but not too far and you float the valves (due to over-revving and/or inadequate valve springs for the cam and valvetrain) it would idle just fine until you revved it way up. Then the valves would float, the lifters would pump up and it would idle badly for a little while when you returned to idle (a few seconds or longer). Also, once the valves "float" you're not going to be making any more power beyond that point. Sorta like hitting a soft rev limiter in the upper RPMs. Engine strains but no more 'go.'

IF you suspect you are having this problem you can back off the rockers to zero preload (just shy of making tapping noises from being too loose) and you won't experience the idle problem any more. However, you will only be masking the problem. The valves will STILL be floating at high RPMs, it's just the lifters won't have anywhere left to "pump up" and the idle will be fine as soon as you let off.

A bad clutch will KILL your ET and MPH. If it's clearly slipping, replace it. No point chasing engine problems if you can't send all the power it's making to the rear wheels anyway.

Beyond that I would start asking about what SPECIFICALLY is different on the engine from when it was in your 1st car.

I agree with Eric on the intake gasket situation with the Pro Toplines. DDejohn had just put his engine together and FelPro 1205 gaskets basically ruined the engine. He was also using the Pro Topline 200 heads and the gaskets were leaking so bad he actually sucked water into the engine.

Losing 13 mph and over 2.5 seconds is a LOT of power. First to make tuning easier I'd go with an RPM intake or a Holley 300-36. I really don't think that engine needs a Vic. Jr. even with those heads.

Is this or is this not the same carb and distributor as when it was in the other car? The 600 is whack for a big single plane intake, it would do better on a good dual plane. Also on that engine I'd rather use a bit more carb regardless. You have the heads and combo to use it http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif Good luck chasing that gremlin!

First off thanks everybody for the info. I didnt't know about those gaskets. The engine came from a machine shop already assembled. Claim 440hp at 5800rpms So I figure conservatively 400 20%loss 320 min to the wheels. Out here a low low 13 sec car. Well my guess were correct in my other 74.(13.2) only pass.

differences:
msd6a box with pro billit distributor
edel 750 carb.
auto and a 3000 stall
same gears w/o posi
full exhaust
more weight.

it should be in the 13's or at least trapping 102+mph. I had to put on the eddy performer for hood clearance problems (i thought) the vr jr came with the motor, I swapped intakes and the problems started. only other difference would be, the fuel line is a little long b/c of the pressure reg. cam specs are 108 ls with 518/518 and a 230 @50 duration. Plug it into desk top and you should get close to 400+ at the crank. Feels more like 250ish to the wheels with no bottom end. I know the power band for this motor is around 3000-6000. I'll swap the intake gasket (again) and change over to the 750, and try to shorten the fuel line 1st. Any other suggestions would greatly help.

Thanks guys! http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

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74 blown 454
74 Z
02 Z
no wife or kids :)