Idle speed?

[skywardpc]

Just replaced the distrib. in my 74 Charger and I want to put a tach on it too.  What does the idle speed need to be set to?  It is a fairly stock 318.

[aifilaw]

general rule is for an automatic 750 RPM idle, for a manual 1000 RPM.
for a manual and a large cam/racing application 1200 RPM.
for an automatic with a large cam go up 1-200

[Rolling_Thunder]

I like big blocks with monster cams and a 4-speed to idle at 800-900rpm           Makes it sound a lot better   

[aifilaw]

yeah, but try driving in traffic with an exhaust so loud you can't hear your engine and praying that it doesn't die and you looking like a shmuck

[Rolling_Thunder]

yeah, but try driving in traffic with an exhaust so loud you can't hear your engine and praying that it doesn't die and you looking like a shmuck

been there and done that...     thats what makes it fun         if i wanted easy i would drive my toyota   

[aifilaw]

Someone, somewhere, needs to explain to me why a car would be produced from the factory and come standard with the following setup:
if manual transmission, then clock replaces the tachometer
if automatic transmission, then tachometer replaces the clock

I can't count how many makes and models of american cars from the 60's through the 90's have this.

[skywardpc]

thanks for all the quick answers.   

[1974dodgecharger]

I like big blocks with monster cams and a 4-speed to idle at 800-900rpm           Makes it sound a lot better   

thx for info RT I have adjusted my idle to 900 and she sounds so much better.  Before I had it idle at 650 and she seemed like a pig and wanted die though she didnt die, but now she roars at idle!!!! 

[flyinlow]

800 rpm is a nice round number that's easy to read on most tacks.

[myk]

Depends on the car in question.  I have mine set at 800.  I could take it lower but....I like it where it's at...

[1974dodgecharger]

had to adjust my idle back down to roughly 600 to 700!  She did not like it at 900 when I put her into reverse she would grind a little every single time, but now im back to the lower numbers and no grind into reverse and looking like a schmuck.

[lasvegas69charg]

What about with Ac. Mine is set at 1k but in summer time when I turn the Ac on it drops to 700 and the car wants to die. Is there a way to fix this so when the Ac is on it jumps the rpm up?

[myk]

Didn't these cars come with an idle-air-compensator or similar device?

[69wannabe]

I think these cars with A/C had a little solenoid with a plunger mounted to the throttle lever side of the carb that would kick the idle up when you turn the A/C on.  It actually would push against the throttle lever and raise the idle and it was adjustable too. I got my charger idled around 850 rpms. Its a manual so it doesn't drop down like an automatic in gear. My buddy had a 68 charger with a 500 ci and a good size cam and we had it idled at around 1100 in park and it idled bout 800 in gear I think. I usually just tinker with the idle until I like the way it sounds. Usually somewhere between 750 rpms and 950 rpms with a mild cam and slightly higher with more aggressive cams.