Performance on 383...Questions

[TylerCharger69]

  Okay....tell me what you think.   I have a 383  originally a 2 bbl car.  It now has an Edelbrock Performer intake, 1405 Carb.  The ignition has been upgraded to the Mopar electronic conversion unit.  This engine is mostly stock.

Now......

I seem to notice a performance loss from a dead stop, i.e. a bit sluggish until R.P.M.s rise a bit.  First question is.....My ignition system.  The conversion kit that is on there now  has not failed me at all, but I'm wondering if I was to convert it to M.S.D. or something that it would improve that aspect.   Second....The carb.  I notice that when I corner somewhat hard, I can faintly smell gas.   Only when I'm cornering though.  Are my floats adjusted to high?  I hope I don't have to re-jet this thing.  I chose this because I didn't want to stray away too far from the stock 2 bbl application and cause over carbing.    Third.....spark plugs.   Should I run the original type plugs or should I install a set with a higher heat range to compensate for the bigger carb?   The camshaft is 270/280  420/442 which seems to add better vacuum than the Engle stick I had previously installed about a month ago.   Manifold vacuum is excellent and steady at 20 Hg without any fluctuation whatsoever.  Engle is a great cam, but being mostly stock....it seemed to be a bit too much.
     The engine has no miss in it at all.    I'm running timing at 36 degrees at around 3000 R.P.M.  and disconnected the vacuum advance.
Next question is.....in order to set the vacuum advance pot,  do I run a vacuum line from the carb, teed in to my gauge and to the advance pot on the distributor?......And....where should this be set?    I remember seeing 50 something somewhere, but I cant find the information I had for it.      Last Question.........What are all the differences between a 383 engine  and a 383  H.P.?   I know the distributor  used a dual point instead of a single....but what are the other differences.....Heads?.....Pistons?........I figure  somebody here would know these things!!!     Thanks again guys!!!!

[TylerCharger69]

LMAO....Well???    Anybody??

[dodge freak]

Well I love my MSD and would not use anything else but not sure if it give you more power at low rmps. It does smooth out my idle when its cold, I have no choke, holley hp. I had the 6 a box for 8 years and then I wanted a rev limiter so I got the 7 al box, MSD said the 6 al would work but the price was not much , its better than my 6 a but it might have gotten old. I think you lost a little power because the front, primary's are very small compare to the 2 bbl. a jet or metering rod change might help, all you can do is change it and see. Sounds like the float could be to high but I no nothing about those carbs. Oh I was smelling gas fumes on the freeway at high speeds with my old MSD 6 a box but its gone now with the 7 al but again maybe it was old. The plugs should be ok, if you get a MSD they say to go a little colder and open the gap up to .050 or so. I went colder but the gap is at .038 I won't go no bigger it just makes it easier to miss fire or crossfire. I use no vacuum advance but have both light springs in the dist. so the advance comes in by 2500 rpms. I think if you use it go with ported thats vacuum only when the throttle is open not at idle. Thats all I can tell you.

[Chryco Psycho]

higher heat range plugs should not be nessisary unles the compression dropped or you were making less heat for some reason , carb size makes no difference if jetted right
floats could be high if it floods cornering , it is worth checking 
if you feel you need to run vacuum advance for some reason it has to be connected to Ported vacuum NOT manifold vacuum , ported vacuum increases with RPM , otherwise just leave it disconnected , it sounds like your curve is close
383 hp had higher compression , different can intake & exhuast amnifolds

[TylerCharger69]

higher compression....meaning  it sported flat top pistons instead of dish tops???  Or  are the heads different??...or both??  The car uses headers so my only concern was the engine differences itself  and not the externals.

[Plumcrazy]

What rear axle ratio are you running?
I would want a 3.23 or higher.

[TylerCharger69]

Actually...it's a Ford rear end.    It has a 3:00 Gear  for top speed and higwayability.