in need of a tuning lesson

[70sbee]

i have a 70 bee 440 4 speed im wanting to get tuned in a little better the car runs good but i think it still needs some bugs worked out i had a guy help me tune it but it still seems to have a couple little problems. the car runs and drives great has a small hess. off idle that the guy said is my squirters on my carb ( he says i need bigger ones) and other than that it starts a little hard but if i could just get some basic tuning info that would be great heres my info. let me know if im missing anything i have a 440 .030 over 452 heads cleaned up a little flat top pistons a edelbrock cam 114 lobe sep. .465 intake .488 ex. lift i have a edelbrock torker single plane intake and demon 750 carb. i have 4.56 gear a msd 6al box msd coil and msd distributor i think we changed the bushing in the dist to have about 12 degreees initial timing?? cant remember exactly and we lightened up the spring in the distributor and the timing is set to 36 total degrees (also has headers) i bought the engine complete so i dont know the exact details but i was told it is 10.5:1 like i said the car runs great and has plenty of power (i feel anyway) but has a little stumble off idle the squirters on my carb are 31's and he said to try 37's but the starting hard is the worst for me i have ordered the new squirters to try but would really just like a lesson to help me understand whats what. any help is much appreciated!!

 

[70sbee]

come on guys!! someones gotta have some input here! how are you seting up your carb and timing curve just need some basic knowledge

 

[daredevil]

Read this, very thorough explanation.http://www.diamondbackengines.com/technical-white-papers/carb-tuning-part-2/

 

[tpodwdog]

ok.....im from the school of KEEP IT SIMPLE. the more stuff you throw in....the more complicated things get.

i have a stock 1970 Road Runner 383 with a Holley 750.
i also have a 1966 Belvedere 440 ALLLLLLLL HYPOE'D UP.

THE ROAD RUNNER FIRES UP AND IDLES NICE RIGHT FROM THE GET GO...i turn the key,,,it starts and i can walk away....the Belvy DOES NOT....why you ask? could be the 10:5-1 compression....could be the Hemi cam could be a multitude of things....timing....bla bla bla,,,but it does start....NOT EASILY MIND YOU......just as yours does.....but runs like a raped ape once things are ready to go !

i pump the gas 6 times....and it wants to go.....pump 2 more times....it fires and dies......one more pump and it springs to life......all the while i have to hold the throttle on until it warms up and idles on its own......ITS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. once warmed up...it has no problem starting back up if shut off.

i have played with this,,,,and dikked with that, sometimes making things WORSE... to solve the problem until i realized,,,,thats just how it is...ITS FAR FROM STOCK.

i would suggest taking it to a reputable speed shop....let them evaluate it and have them tune it to where it does everything you want it to do. my knowledge of the logistics of dizzy springs and full advance timing,,,and this and that i dont think will help you. Cranky is good at that stuff and so is Rat Rod.....maybe they will chime in !

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Glanced at the Diamonback article, good stuff but to much to read for now. That being said. I had an issue with secondary throttle plates not being adjusted properly (like closed!)........ you will chase a ghost forever if this isnt rite. This was on a Holley 750DP but the demon got to be bout the same.....

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

If you want to tune it yourself,you really should look into a pair of o/2 sensors.This would take alot of fustration out of carb tinkering and let you see what is going on with it.Most wedge heads will like 32 to 38 degreez of timing.Spark plug readings MUST be done by turning the engine off at the top of 2nd or 3rd gear at wide open throttle, with an automatic or 3rd or 4th with a stick.It's the ONLY way to get a true plug reading.