Hey guys! New 302 starts! It will stay running if I keep my foot on the gas, but doesn't get any more power by pushing down farther on the gas pedal. Could this be because there is no exhaust, only headers? Or should I be looking for another culprit possibly? IT STARTS!!!
yea, it takes a while to start. Don't have a timing gun so I set the rotor button in the dizzy to the first cylinder and then turned the engine so the piston was at the top of the first cylinder, and then installed the dizzy in the engine like the picture on page 43 of the chiltons. Was just gonna take it to a place to get timed and tuned once the exhaust was on, but I gotta get it to the exhaust place first lol. By 3pm actually haha. Is there a way to tell which way to adjust the timing without a light? A sound or tic maybe?
on the back of the edelbrock carb there is a large hole that has threads in it. it is there to hook up a vacuum port for power brake or pcv valve. its very easy to miss having to plug this hole. i belive edelbrock should have them pluged when they sell them but they dont want to pay some slave laborer in some third world county to sit there and screw in pulgs. ive seen lots of people forget this and go nuts trying to figure out why there motor wont run. so is that port in the back of the car pluged off or hooked up or open?
Others can probably give you a better answer but I know you're pressed for time so I'll tell you how I would do it. Turn the idle mix adjustment screws on the carb in till the gently bottom, then back out 3/4 turn. Sounds like the timing is slow. To advance it you need to rotate the distributor counter-clockwise. Loosen the distributor hold down and snug it so you can move the distributor but it stays in place. Bump the dist a LITTLE counter-clockwise and try to start it again. Keep doing this until it stays running, which it will IF the only issue you have is timing. Once it will stay running get it to run as close to idle speed as you can. Now, you can "time it by ear". Rotate the distributor to find where you get max RPMs, then back it off, clockwise, till it slows down a bit. Adjust the idle screws in till the engine begins to slow, than back out as little as you can to get max RPMs and smoothness back. Stop and start the engine a few times. If you're getting any kick back or spark knock, bump the dist clockwise untill that goes away. Tighten the hold down. Take it on a short test drive. If you're getting spark knock, bump the distributor clockwise to eliminate it. That should get you to the place that will set the timing (and adjust the idle?).
the port in the back of the carb is closed. haven't got it yet, but it definitely changes how easy it is to start or not moving the distributor around. I'll keep trying! Should I have the vacuum advanced plugged for this?
For this level of precision in timing, you could have the vacuum advance connected or not. But, it's important to have all vacuum lines connected or plugged.
well I killed the battery trying to start it so much haha. Not gonna make that exhaust appointment today. Might have to figure something else out. Thanks for all the help guys!! This is GREAT!!
ok. It idles now. The dizzy is WAY off from where I had it. Thanks!! I turned it off instead of playing with it... my fan is kinda scary. Like looks wobbly scary. Used 4 pre-cut pieces of pipe around the bolts as spacers and maybe that wasn't such a great idea. Looks really cool tho when the engine's not running
spacers on fan bolts, not a good idea and may be listed as why a head was found rolling around garage floor. Timing light is a great investment!
Scares me just reading about it. DO NOT REV THE ENGINE UNTIL YOU GET A CORRECT SPACER.. Fans kill people. Sounds like you're making progress.
Yea! I'm thinkin of pulling the fan off the 250 I have in storage and seeing if that fits... Those bolts are tight as hell! I don't think it will go anywhere. But that's just scary looking all over the place. Coolvettes - gonna wait on that ad til I move to raleigh if I can help it. Crashing on peoples couches n not trying to have stuff shipped. dk - have a timing light where I'm going . I'll have a mechanic do it for now when I can get it there. I'm gonna have them do a once over on it too since it's my first time doing a swap
Good Call!! I would not have thought of that! Upon a second look at those pipes I used, I have concluded that I'm a moron haha. I used threaded pipe. The top and bottoms aren't completely flat. Which explains why it spins like it's drunk... Looked soo cool when I saw them at lowes tho lol
Here's how to set the timing without a light: Turn the crank till the timing pointer is aligned with the mark you want it set at. Then loosen the distributor slightly(too where you can turn it with a little effort, but not too loose) Next, pull the #1 plug wire and stick a phillips screw driver into the loose end, hold the driver next to a ground. Now, turn the ignition on, but don't start it. Now, while slowly turning the distributor back and forth, watch for the spark, when it sparks, stop turning and lock it down. Checking it with a light will confirm the setting, it will be dead on the money if you do this right.
