It's alive!! It's really alive now!

[Telvis]

Good news!! I started my motor for the first time today. It purrs like a kitten!

I am having a problem tuning the motor. I have a 383 with a street avenger carb and a mopar performance ignition. I have the timing set at 5 degrees of advance. The car runs fine but the idle is very high. I have the idle screw turned all the way back. The only way I can reduce the idle is to retard the timing. I really need some help tuning this thing. 

[Telvis]

I know it sounds crazy but will the engine run if the timing is off 180 degrees?

[jg68]

I know it sounds crazy but will the engine run if the timing is off 180 degrees?

No.

[Telvis]

I didn't think so. I can't get the idle to drop for anything. I have the idle screw out as far as it will go. This is driving me crazy!

[firefighter3931]

Check the throttle cable....it must be holding the throttle open. There should be a small amount of slack on the cable when the idle speed has been adjusted.


Ron

[Telvis]

Nope..I don't have the cable hooked up all the way. The car isn't ready to drive. I was just starting it for the first time to break it in. The trottle return springs are tight. I even put some pressure on the linkage to see if it was binding. The idle is as low as I can get it.

[firefighter3931]

Ok, so much for that idea 

What manifold are you using ? Dual plane ? Sometimes the holley carbs will need a short spacer between the carb and manifold (dual plane) because the linkage will bind up on the manifold. Look closely and make sure that this isn't happening....look on both sides of the carb....driver side and passenger side.


Ron

[Telvis]

I'm using a street dominator intake. I will go out and check the linkage and see if it is hitting the intake. I don;t think it is but I will double check.

[whitehatspecial]

Is the idle screw against the stop? If not the choke high idle step down could be hanging up.

[Telvis]

The linkage was binding! I went to auto zone a bought a spacer. It runs like a champ!!!!

The spacer is a bit thick. I will probably need to find something thinner down the road. For now she runs like a champ!!

[Telvis]

The spacer I installed is a 1". WIll that make the carburator too high for the hood to close? If this one will work fine I hate to spend the money ordering a thinner one.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

More than likely you will need a drop base aircleaner with a 1" spacer.  I am running a 1/2" with a drop base & the stock aircleaner clears the hood pad now

[firefighter3931]

Good work Telvis ! 

With a lowdeck 383 you should be fine for hood clearance...but check it anyway. With a 440 you would most likely need a drop base. 


Ron

[Telvis]

Man, I am so happy! My car runs incredibly well. It's as smooth as silk. The TTI exhaust sounds great too. Now I just have to put the rest of the car together. It's all cosmetic now. Fenders, hood, grill, trim... Man I am stoked tonight!

[Ghoste]

Good work Telvis ! 

With a lowdeck 383 you should be fine for hood clearance...but check it anyway. With a 440 you would most likely need a drop base. 


Ron

Depending on how tall your air filter is of course.