new engine in.....WOW!

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MSD-8500&N=400122+115&autoview=sku about $300
converts an HEI to MSD with outboard coil plus rev limiter. 8 years and still going strong. It's firing a 13.38:1 494"

 

converted HEI

It doesnt have a stock coil or module. I used the Proform 66945RC HEI upgrade kit. Also the carb is an 8896-2. I also have a mallory dual point distributor that I could convert and use to trigger the MSD box. What would I gain? I have never used an MSD ignition before.

 

dominator

The 9375 holley dominator is for dual 4 setups. Im not sure if or why it would work better. I know its more expensive though.

 

Steve, with the mods you just mentioned I can't comment on the value of stepping up with a multiple spark system. I went from well set-up points distributor to HEI and saw some improvement, then to a MSD 6AL triggered by the HEI & external coil. I never tried to hop up the HEI other than running an external Accel coil.

I think you're to the point that doing some back-to-back tests with timeslips is what it'll take to know for sure!

Do you know someone who can loan you a MSD 6 series box for the sake of experimentation? The MSD 6 series is an easy fit to the HEI distributor.

Devon

 

ignition

Ill have to ask around at the track about borowing an msd box. Im really not too worried about the ignition right now, it seems fine. Im more concerned about jetting and fuel delivery. I am only using a stage1 mechanical pump and planned on adding an electric pump inline. I still need to plumb in my fuel pressure gage.

 

Spins the tires

I checked the cranking compression and its around 170 lbs. in all cylinders. I just bought a vac gage to adjust the idle mixture and I got it to produce almost 10 inches at an idle speed of about 900 rpm, before adjusting it was only about 6. I have 5 pounds of fuel pressure and that is pretty steady from 1500 on up to 4500 or better. Right now the engine is making great power. It spins the street tires like you are on ice, even with slightly agressive use of the right foot. I put the slicks on and took it for a short drive. It still spins the slicks nearly as badly as the street tires. Im sure with some burnouts and a sticky track, traction will be much less of a problem.

 

Was there some improvement as well with the latter set up,was it with one of Dave Ray's units?Thanks.

 

Sorry for lack of detail...I didn't want to hijack Steve's topic.

My switch away from points in the late '80's was to a stock HEI distributor with the in-cap coil removed. I immediately noticed quicker startup and better off-idle to top-end performance. In '93 I added the MSD6AL which even further improved all of the above. At that time I replaced the external Accel supercoil with a MSD Blaster unit matched to the box.

Last year I found a good deal on the now-obsolete Accel 52000 series billet distributors with vac advance, which I'll use to trigger the MSD box & coil. After all these years my old HEI distributor is just plain worn out.

Devon

 

Traction

I don't know if you have already, but relocation of the battery to the back will help with the traction. It won't be day and night or anything, but you will definately notice an improvement. How much fuel are you running? You might be considerably quicker getting hooked up with the added weight of a full tank.
:3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears: :3gears:

 

traction...... suspicious noise

 

Call Me

 

Hey Steve, where you been I haven't heard from in a while. Give me a call at the shop, I got stuck working a saturday ou: or I be home from 4:30 on. work 1-250-474-3777 home 1-250-474-0622......Chris[/QUOTE]


Isn't that one of those "sex hotline" numbers? What's your "stage" name? :laugh: ......Gotcha! :laugh:

 

engine rattle video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3457045468610523928


heres the link to the engine rattle video.

 

Steve, your fuel presure sounds a little low to me, If you run it into high gear and it suddenly falls on its face or quits pulling you might be starving for fuel. What are you running for a pump and what size of lines. I run 9psi for my car with a 1050 and stage2SE. I have an out of the box 9375 on my motor and when I dynoed it we didn't even have to change the jets. I would turn the presure up before changing jets.

 

I think after that ride in the Skylark, your stepson will no longer be in the somewhat a ricer category. I just love those big bore motors that are as big in diameter as an oatmeal box.

 

I had a nightmare of a time when I was still using the stock rockers and adjustable pushrods. They would always loosen up! The rollers are sweet, never had to adjust them again. :TU:

 

suspicious noise

one turn of the pushrod, that should be .030 preload. However the lifter on cylinder #4 had bled down and it was very dificult to determine the zero lash point. I think that one may have been too tight. But Im not sure. I pulled the plug wires one by one and the noise didnt change. I unbolted the torque converter as well and it wasnt transmission or torque converter related. I have yet to re-adjust the preload on the lifters. Should tackle that in the morning. I spoke to mike at TA and he said that with 1.55 ratio rockers there may be interference between the pushrods and the hole in the head that it goes through. This could exert pressure lateraly on the pushrod causing the lifter to try to readjust and click or dump pressure I guess. The pushrods do come very close if not touching the head (there is some chafing on the pushrods right now) evidently the 1.65 ratio rockers center the pushrod in the hole better and clearance isnt an issue. Im not sure if this is the source of the sound Im hearing. It doesnt sound like a rod knock to me. Usually that is more pronounced on engine deceleration and goes away under a load until it gets really bad.

 

fuel pressure

Yeah I know I need to upgrade fuel system It has a stock stage 1 pump and under heavy acceleration fuel pressure drops to 2 psi. I just want to resolve the engine noise right now before I spend more money on the fuel system. I was kind of planning on running an electric pump inline on a switch but it looks now like this engine will require higher pressure virtually all of the time thus 1/2 lines and a pump and regulator.

 

Steve, that is definately not lifter noise, It sounds like a rod knock to me. Have you cut open the oil filter to check for debri? You said oil pressure is 45 hot at rpm? What rpm? Jim Burek