Firecore ZOOM ZOOM!

[myk]

I have just one word for everyone thinking about ignition systems: FIRE-FREAKING-CORE!  Is that one word or three?  Who the heck cares?!

Ron had a plug N play Firecore distributor sent out to me in a matter of days, and this morning I was able to just drop it in and go.  Well, ZOOM would be more like it.  Honestly guys, I haven't been this surprised by a car since I first got behind the wheel of my LS-1 powered '99 Ram-Air Firebird.  I'm not saying it runs as fast as that, but it has definitely improved over yesterday. In the 21 years I've owned the Charger this has to be the BEST it's ever run, and the Firecore distributor was the latest piece of hardware to make it all happen.  

What's changed?  Well how about everything?  Start-up, idle, part-throttle, cruising, medium throttle, full freaking throttle, OMG back off of the throttle, all of it is improved in a way that the car operates more clean, more crisp, and definitely stronger.  Christ I almost put the nose into someone's rear because I wasn't expecting the car to move out that quickly-definitely an improvement over my previous Mopar Performance distributor.  Now for the questions:

My settings are:

initial timing @ 19* BTDC

total timing @ 39* @ 2500 RPM (actually, it was 39* or ALL IN by 2000 RPM)

vacuum advance off and plugged

engine idle @ 800 RPM

I was able to get the car to pull 17" of vacuum at idle.  Is that good?  Isn't that....kinda high, or is that even a problem?  Just what sort of vacuum are we supposed to be pulling anyway?  I don't know my engine specs so I'm clueless on that one.  What should I be doing to try and maximize the settings?  Should I try reconnecting the vacuumn advance just to see how it runs?  When I was using the Mopar Performance distributor the car ran BETTER (not better than the Firecore setup obviously) with the vacuum advance hooked up.  Should I just leave everything alone and call it a day?  

Now I would be lying if I said the Charger and I are now living in a land of unicorns and rainbows.  As great as the car has improved I still have that annoying off-idle bog/stumble that has plagued me for decades, but obviously the ignition isn't related to it and that will have to be another thread.  Also, I moved one of my plug wires to the point that it partially melted onto one of the header tubes.  I KNEW I should've listened to Ron about buying spare plug wires!  Also, I forgot to order this thing with a black distributor cap.  I just love black distributor caps.    Again, I want to thank all of you here for your support and encouragement.  Most of all I want to thank Ron.  He's a firefighter, moderator, philanthropist and probably a legendary porn-star, yet he still finds time to PM a lowly member like me, back-and-forth until I am satisfied and confident with my purchase and its operation.  I don't know where the Charger and I would be without you guys.  Thanks again and I look forward to your input!

[cdr]

looks great, as long as no pinging is happening, I am sure Ron will chime in.

[RECHRGD]

X2...  I got one from Ron this Spring with similar results.  Enjoy!  

[Dino]

Awesome stuff isn't it?  I was shocked by the difference the Firecore system made.  I will be selling my mini coil and 8.5 mm wires soon as I'm going back to the stock look, with Firecore products of course.   

[c00nhunterjoe]

That vacuum reading tells me you have a healthy engine with a very mild cam or a grind with a wide lsa. 39° is fine, no worries there.

[firefighter3931]

Good stuff Myk....I knew you'd be happy 

As Joe & Charlie said above....timing is fine. As long as it's not detonating just run it. I wouldn't bother with the vacuum advance but you can give it a try to experiment if you wish. Remember if you hook it up....use the ported vacuum nipple. 

That's a nice strong vacuum signal....great for easy tuning and power brake booster operation. Now we need to get you into a real carburetor 

Thanks for the kind words....it is appreciated. 



Ron

[Derwud]

Cool,good to know...

Time for Fuel Injection..

[myk]

Good stuff Myk....I knew you'd be happy  

As Joe & Charlie said above....timing is fine. As long as it's not detonating just run it. I wouldn't bother with the vacuum advance but you can give it a try to experiment if you wish. Remember if you hook it up....use the ported vacuum nipple.  

That's a nice strong vacuum signal....great for easy tuning and power brake booster operation. Now we need to get you into a real carburetor  

Thanks for the kind words....it is appreciated.  
Ron

So you're talking about that ProForm line, right?  Yeah I'll start looking into that.  Right now the old Holley 4160/50 was my initial thought but I'll consider others.

Cool,good to know...

Time for Fuel Injection..

Eh, maybe.  I like thinking of this car as a low-tech dinosaur that's learned a few tricks but hasn't evolved into the wiring harness, module and sensor clusterf**k that are modern cars...

[Derwud]

Cool,good to know...

Time for Fuel Injection..

Eh, maybe.  I like thinking of this car as a low-tech dinosaur that's learned a few tricks but hasn't evolved into the wiring harness, module and sensor clusterf**k that are modern cars...

Well you made one step towards the dark side with the Ign system, take the bigger leap!!

[myk]

Cool,good to know...

Time for Fuel Injection..

Eh, maybe.  I like thinking of this car as a low-tech dinosaur that's learned a few tricks but hasn't evolved into the wiring harness, module and sensor clusterf**k that are modern cars...

Well you made one step towards the dark side with the Ign system, take the bigger leap!!

Yeah but one thing I noticed after a day of hot-rodding in town is that I need need to fine tune and perfect my suspension and braking if I'm going to keep us alive lol...

[c00nhunterjoe]

Whats with the jump to injection? Once you felt how crisp and responsive a carb can be, you would never consider changing.

[myk]

Whats with the jump to injection? Once you felt how crisp and responsive a carb can be, you would never consider changing.

Yeah I've gotta figure out that off-idle bog.  I've got all the killer hardware but have to walk the dog off the line...

[c00nhunterjoe]

Idle transfer slot, idle mixture, accel pump size, discharge nozzle, jets. In that order.

[myk]

Idle transfer slot, idle mixture, accel pump size, discharge nozzle, jets. In that order.

Well in that case the Edelbrock 'carb has to go.  None of those things are adjustable on this 'carb except the jets and mix screws.  I have another theory on the problem that isn't related to tuning, though...

[c00nhunterjoe]

The edlebrocks are adjustable and fully tunable. just done differently. I thought for some reason you had a holley on yours.

[BananaDan]

myk,
Did you get the FC distributor and keep your MSD 6AL or go with the RTR distributor and pull the MSD? Glad to hear your results, great stuff!

[Derwud]

Edelbrocks and Carters are much easier to tune, but can't be dialed in as well as Holley's..

[69wannabe]

Glad to hear the success of your latest purchase!!!! I bought a firecore plug and play dizzy for mine earlier this year and a set of the firecore wire's and a new MSD blaster 2 coil and resistor recommended by Ron and a set of NGK spark plug's and it's exactly like you said above, the car has never felt better!!!! You got yourself a solid ignition system now and you could really use a good holley or proform carb next!!! I know you have heard this over and over again but that eddy 750 is a slug of a carb!! I tried and tried to tune and jet and swap metering rod's to get one to work on my car and it just wasn't going to happen. I actually lucked up into a holley 750 double pumper carb and haven't looked back since. With some very minor tuning there is no bogging or stumbling just alot of going fast and smiling!!! I wish I still had that 750 holley, it was the best carb I have ever owned but when I went from the 440 to the 493 I bought a 850 double pumper carb and sadly sold the 750 to cover some of the cost on the 850. The 850 runs great tho and like the 750 all I had to do was jet it up a few jet sizes and that's pretty much it. My hat is off to Ron, he sell's the best product's that can be put on your mopar for the ignition system hands down!!!!  You put yourself a good holley/proform on your charger and you will have to start on your brakes next and that firebird won't even have a chance!!!!! 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Im not an expert on the eddy/ carter style carbs. My suggestion is go to the dragstrip during an nhra stock/super stock event and make some friends. Got a buddy who did changed the carbs on the 63 max wedge last year. He took parts out that i know should stay in but it made the car much more responsive and we picked up 2 mph and a tenth with no other changes.

[myk]

myk,
Did you get the FC distributor and keep your MSD 6AL or go with the RTR distributor and pull the MSD? Glad to hear your results, great stuff!

I kept the MSD6 along with the basic plug in distributor.  How's your car doing?

As for the 'carbs, I'm going to give the Eddy one last try at tuning.  I'll buy a calibration kit and go from there.  If it doesn't work, I'll give the Holley's a try but....I'm almost positive it's something else...

[firefighter3931]

Good stuff Myk....I knew you'd be happy  

As Joe & Charlie said above....timing is fine. As long as it's not detonating just run it. I wouldn't bother with the vacuum advance but you can give it a try to experiment if you wish. Remember if you hook it up....use the ported vacuum nipple.  

That's a nice strong vacuum signal....great for easy tuning and power brake booster operation. Now we need to get you into a real carburetor  

Thanks for the kind words....it is appreciated.  
Ron

So you're talking about that ProForm line, right?  Yeah I'll start looking into that.  Right now the old Holley 4160/50 was my initial thought but I'll consider others.

Yep, the Proform 750 street series carb with electric choke is what I would run on that engine combo.

Don't waste your time with the edelbrock carb.....if you think it runs good now wait until you get a descent carb dialed in 



Ron

[1974dodgecharger]

People swear by the edelbrock carbs and have never tried a dual pumper.  Cant believe how easy and adjustable a DP is. Oh well power loss to them.......

[myk]

Is the Proform that much better than the single inlet Holley 4160 I've been fantasizing about?  I thought they were the same 'carb?

[Ghoste]

The Eddy/Carter carbs are fine, they just are a lot more limited as to what can be changed for tuning without getting into actual surgery.  If you want to bolt it on and forget about it, they are a good choice.  If you want to go looking for power though, then the Holley style becomes the best choice.
The Proform takes it a step further Myk by adding some tuning parameters not available in most of the Holley carbs.  Some of the internal passages are also different I believe and the quality control is higher as well.

[1974dodgecharger]

What ghoste said...eventually holley will buy out proform like they do everyone else when a new DP maker  makes something better.