New Charger owner Need a tune up Please help

[garthed]

I think this might be my first post. I am a new happy owner of a 1969 Dodge charger 440. I bought the car in Nevada with an elevation of about 3700 feet. I live at see level. The car ran great in NV. The motor was rebuilt 500 miles ago. I know its has a mild cam and 10 to 1 compression. Down here at see level it pings like mad above 2000 RPM. It also tries to keep running when I turn it off. I am not a mechanic but have a little knowledge about how things work on cars. Could someone give me directions on what I should do first? I assume that the timing is off and the carb is too lean and needs to be rejetted. The carb is a holly and new, not to sure what model. I have a timing gun and some tools. I do not have a vacuum pump. Any help would be great or if anyone has any good websites that would help me educate myself.

Thanks
Garth

[Chryco Psycho]

disconnecting the vacuum advance may help , stepping up 2-4 jet sizes will cool the cylinder temp as well ,watch the plug color

[firefighter3931]

Garth, welcome to the site. What plugs are you running in the Charger ?


Ron

[garthed]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure on the plugs but pulled them out and they are black?? So not lean right? Last night the car died and had to have it towded.  It was running and then just died. Like it was loading up. Let me run this by you guys. It pings above 2000 rpms and smells rich at idle. So its running rich at idle and lean at 2000 rpm. It dies after running for about 5 minutes. After it sits and or cools for a wile it will run for about 5 minutes. It cranks over but won't start. Do you think its the fuel filter? This would cause it to run lean at high RPM because not enough fuel so its lean. After it sits the fuel filter uncloggs for a little bit and it runs. Also it seams to run better if the air cleaner is off at idle. So to rich at idle. I'll have to wait a week before I can change the fuel filter. Not sure how to lean it out at idle though? Am I on the right track or should I just take it to some shop and tell them to make it right?

Thanks Again
Garth

[firefighter3931]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure on the plugs but pulled them out and they are black?? So not lean right? Last night the car died and had to have it towded.  It was running and then just died. Like it was loading up. Let me run this by you guys. It pings above 2000 rpms and smells rich at idle. So its running rich at idle and lean at 2000 rpm. It dies after running for about 5 minutes. After it sits and or cools for a wile it will run for about 5 minutes. It cranks over but won't start. Do you think its the fuel filter? This would cause it to run lean at high RPM because not enough fuel so its lean. After it sits the fuel filter uncloggs for a little bit and it runs. Also it seams to run better if the air cleaner is off at idle. So to rich at idle. I'll have to wait a week before I can change the fuel filter. Not sure how to lean it out at idle though? Am I on the right track or should I just take it to some shop and tell them to make it right?

Thanks Again
Garth

Definately rich at idle.  The plugs should be tan to light brown. You can adjust the idle mixture using the idle mixture screws. It could be going lean at higher rpm's due to a fuel delivery problem. I would start with a fresh fuel filter. There could also be issues with vapor lock. If the fuel is too hot it will lead to predetonation. Too much timing advance will also cause the same issues.

I was askiing about the plugs because i wanted to see if you were running too cold of a plug. A cold plug will foul easier on the street. The timing might need to be dialed in as well....as evidenced by the run-on.


Ron

[whitehatspecial]

What kind of choke?

[deputycrawford]

Gart, I agree with the others. I would change the fuel filter, set the maxumum mechanical timing to 34 degrees by 3000 rpms and unplug the vacuum advance. Thats a decent place to start for the timing. Remember, the mechanical timing, not the idle timing. Oh, and put some new plugs in the beast and start over with the readings. Get back to us and then we can move on from there.

[garthed]

Thanks of the replies. I have to get a new timing gun. I'll post what happens after that.

[myk]

Make sure that you get a gun with a variable advance feature built into it...

[garthed]

Ok guys. I can't get the car started anymore. Anyone have any pointers. Its getting fuel. Has spark but will not fire up at all. Its sat for a week since that last time it ran. It started but I could tell that it was cold and then died. It will not start again now. Do you think that the jets are just too messed up for see level. It as a holley 3310 with a 72 in front and 79 in the back.

Thanks
Garth

[firefighter3931]

Garth, the plugs are fouled. Get a set of NGK XR-5's at your local auto parts store.


Ron

[garthed]

I replaced the spark plugs last night and it still will not start. I'm thinking of just buying a new carb. The one on the car is jetted for 3700 feet. If I take it to a shop and have it re jetted it will most likely cast the same as a new carb. Do you guys have any good recomendations.

Thanks