Hot start/timing question.

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by 70skylark350, Jun 8, 2020.

  1. LARRY70GS

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

  2. LARRY70GS

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

    Dave,
    Forgive me, I talk to so many on this board I can't keep the different motors straight.:) Is there a cam in this engine? I know you set the total to 32, but did you ever check what it idles at?
     
  3. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    Hi larry, I was just down there messing with it, all in was at 32, looks like it idles around 8-10 degrees. is starts right up and runs great, its just that now if I set my idle below 1,000 rpm it wants to bring the engine down and stall as soon as I put it in gear. it does have a cam and converter, bought the converter on hee from Jim, don't remember the specs off top of my head, and the cam was from TA, not overly aggressive, again I would have to look up the specs. I do have lighter mechanical advance springs in the distributer, they are silver in color. What could have happened here just from going from the Crane XR-I ignition to the Lectric Limited?
     
  4. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    Hound the engine specs on another post Larry..... the motor is a 72 350. custom pistons with 9.5:1 compression. heads ported and polished. stock exhaust manifolds. carb set up by Ken at Everyday Performance. TA 284 cam 475"-223'/.475"-230',110'. 2800 stall converter, TA stage 1 dual plane aluminum intake. Crane cams points eliminator.
     
  5. LARRY70GS

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

    It's going to want at least 12* of initial timing, possibly more, to be happy at idle, and to readily start.
     
  6. LARRY70GS

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

    Sometimes, what happens is you have mechanical advance in at idle speeds. Then when you throw it in gear, the idle gets dragged down, and you lose mechanical timing and the engine idle drops even more causing it to stall. Set the total advance up with light springs, then shut it down, and put some stiff springs in it. Then start it up, and idle it down as low as it will go. Then look at the initial timing. It's probably lower than you think. You want it to idle without any mechanical advance in. That's a decent cam in a 350. It will want at least 12*, maybe more to be happy.

    Jim's converters are awesome. They are not loose at all, you feel it when you throw it in gear.
     
    70skylark350 likes this.
  7. BuickV8Mike

    BuickV8Mike SD Buick Fan

    It's running so well it can tell hot from cold. ???
     
  8. BuickV8Mike

    BuickV8Mike SD Buick Fan

    Choke working?
     
  9. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    Thank you very much for all the help. I will do what you suggest and let you know what happens.
     
  10. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    so I changed the mechanical advance springs from two silver, to one blue and one yellow, the gave her a little more initial timing as recommended by Larry and all my problems went away. Thank you so much for the guidance. the car has never started so nice since Ive owned it. just bump the key and it fires right up now. very nice.
     

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