cam, torque converter combo

[charger01]

My 69 has a 44 hp with hp manifolds a saturday night special torque converter and a 292 comp cam.  Could this cam be the reason my power brakes are non existent and why it likes to die at stops.  Still trying to diagnose my idling problems.  Idles good for the most part in park, but drive requires more rpm to keep it running, hence making my idle in park way to high.

[b5blue]

  I think it's the booster or a vac. leak. I had power brake working even with a 509 Mopar cam in my 440. It worked for one good stop then reduced drastically if I let off then reapplied brakes immediately. I added a vacuum reserve can that helped greatly. The boosters plunger rod has an adjuster nut on the end, it needs to be just short of touching the master cylinders plunger. Also the vacuum valve that plugs into the booster body must seal and function perfectly.   
  Are you running a vacuum advance on the dist.? 

[charger01]

Yes, running a mopar performance distributor with vacuum advance. 

[firefighter3931]

That is the wrong cam for a tight converter and restrictive exhaust.  

Manifold vacuum will be low resulting in tuning headaches and weak power brakes. The converter being too tight is pulling the engine down resulting in the poor idle characteristics you're describing.  


Ron

[charger01]

That is the wrong cam for a tight converter and restrictive exhaust.  

Manifold vacuum will be low resulting in tuning headaches and weak power brakes. The converter being too tight is pulling the engine down resulting in the poor idle characteristics you're describing.  


Ron

That is what Iam assuming but wanted some feedback.  Thinking I should run more of an own camshaft.  Probably easier and cheaper than changing everything else

[firefighter3931]

That is the wrong cam for a tight converter and restrictive exhaust.  

Manifold vacuum will be low resulting in tuning headaches and weak power brakes. The converter being too tight is pulling the engine down resulting in the poor idle characteristics you're describing.  


Ron

That is what Iam assuming but wanted some feedback.  Thinking I should run more of an own camshaft.  Probably easier and cheaper than changing everything else

Changing the cam is the easiest and cheapest route to go. The car will behave much nicer and be more fun to drive. Skip68 had the same problem with his General and once he swapped in a more appropriate cam the improvement was dramatic. 



Ron

[charger01]

Like to hear from him and the symptoms he had

[404NOTFOUND]

I've been fighting the same kind of crap off and on with the same cam. Yes it sounds awesome at times and makes people drool when they hear it but, I'm thinking it's time to get something a bit more streetable.

[BSB67]

I too would suggest a cam change.  Do a cylinder pressure test, collect the rest of the engine info that you have, then call a cam professional.  If you have decent cylinder pressure, a professional may recommend a custom grind verses an off-the-shelf cam.

[charger01]

Cam swap it is.  I took the car to a gentlemen I met off the mml.  Has his own shop an hour or so from me.  He knows what he is doing more than I do, so I figured it's best left to someone who knows.  He's gonna swap out the 292 for a 270.  Should run better and hopefully stop better as well.  will keep ya posted.