Head and cam swap, guidance for a newbie?

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by MDBuick68, Feb 15, 2016.

  1. 71Skylark1384

    71Skylark1384 Platinum Level Contributor

  2. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    Yes 212

    Larry, don't know the part # but I will try to find out after work. It's the original one from the car. Haven't checked dwell either, the car idled perfect before so I didn't mess with it. Just marked and dropped the dizzy in right where it was before. I'll check dwell and total timing also.
     
  3. Extended Power

    Extended Power Well-Known Member

    For a little 212 cam, that sounds pretty damn sweet!
     
  4. 71Skylark1384

    71Skylark1384 Platinum Level Contributor

    It sure does. I'll be running the 212 in my 455 and was skeptical of the cam. But it sounds good even on a 350.
     
  5. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    Depending on your compression ratio take a look at the 284-88 cam for 455. Have it in a 430. Easily outrun the 212 in a 455
     
  6. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    I love the new sound of it! Factory manifolds still, TA 2.5" pipes with dynomax ultrflo mufflers. I'm very happy with it. Like a whole different car. Now I just gotta try to figure out the idle and get back some snap off the line.
     
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    Unless you have owned the car from new, you really don't know if it is the original distributor, it could have been replaced in the last 48 years. The stock distributor for a 68 350 is 1111330. It has between 26 and 30* of mechanical advance at 4600 RPM. That means if you have the initial at 12*, you would have somewhere between 38 and 42* total advance. You have a different cam now. I hope you don't expect it to idle like a stocker. Dwell affects timing, so it should always be checked first before checking/changing timing.
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member


    A TA212 cam will be much milder in a 455 than a 350.
     
  9. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    Thanks larry. No I'm second owner but I got it in 95 from an 89 yr old lady original owner with only 62k on it that only drove it to church and back lol. It was completely untouched when I got it. It's always possible, and maybe I may have changed it and forgot haha, but I don't even think one hose or belt was changed before me. To confirm, I will check it out.

    I know it won't idle like stock, but it just seems a little excessive, it shakes and when I drop it in gear it nearly dies, occasionally have to blip the throttle to keep it going. It feels like idle in park has to be a little too high just to keep it idling in gear. Sounds good out back, just rough at the motor. Hard to explain
     
  10. 71Skylark1384

    71Skylark1384 Platinum Level Contributor

    Damn. lol. Oh well.

    Bummer. I've already have it and should be installing it in two weeks. got a spare one laying around. lol
     
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    It will idle better with initial advance in the 18-20* range, but you will need to modify the distributor for that. The Q-jet will also not be optimal and modifications to the idle system can help. Ken or Mark can do that for you.
     
  12. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    It really seems like it wants that but I wasn't sure. Would that be 18-20* with vaccum advance or just initial and then whatever vacuum advance adds? Which I believe is 15*
    I know I really need to get a curve kit and figure out where it's all at. Btw I've read your article years ago, time for a refresh
     
  13. pmuller9

    pmuller9 Well-Known Member

    Matt

    The 212 is supposed to have a 110* LSA but it looked liked it was around 108* instead causing an idle with even more lope that usual.
    That means it will also need additional initial timing And Larry's suggestion of 18-20* with the vacuum advance line disconnected is close.
    This is not the first time a TA cam has come in with a tighter LSA than spec.
     
  14. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    Ok, I'll retime and see what it does. Because i'm pretty far from 18-20 right now, wasn't sure it was ok to go that high.
     
  15. pmuller9

    pmuller9 Well-Known Member

    Just don't run WOT past 3000 rpm until you get the chance to limit the mechanical advance.
    Remember to set the dwell to 30* before working with the timing.
     
  16. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    You can go up that high to see how it idles, just don't drive the car like that. Vacuum advance will disappear at WOT. If you connect it to manifold vacuum, it will be there at idle providing you make enough vacuum to sustain it. The stock canister maxes out at 16" and starts at 6-8" of vacuum. The vacuum will drop off in gear.
     
  17. alec296

    alec296 i need another buick

    Matt ? If you have stock distributer vacuum line should go to manifold vacuum I believe. That could help in gear idle. But then you may have too much initial .
     
  18. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    Yes stock line, it was on ported vacuum at 12-14* initial, but tried manifold port to help with idle. It did help some in park but in gear idle still dropped pretty low and rough. It's not rough at all when driving, cruising etc. Just at idle.
    Ive never checked dwell so I will do that first And then fiddle with timing.
     
  19. MDBuick68

    MDBuick68 Silver Level contributor

    Larry, at idle the car is making just under 15" I've tried to adjust the mixture screw on the carb to get max and just under 15 is as much as I can get with it idling where it does. So if my timing gets dialed in better does that help the vacuum? Still learning here
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    15" is pretty good. Disconnect the vacuum advance, turn the timing up to 20*, and see how that effects vacuum and idle. A rough idle is the price you pay for extended RPM/Power capability.
     

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