Replaced timing chain this winter, new edelbrock performer and same 600 holly on 350 1971 olds.

Chased my tail for a while with failed brake booster, vacuum leaks and had to re-install intake.

Next the distributor points ign had a broken ground wire.

And here I thought that it would be a simple new timing chain and intake install.
Well after correcting all issues and using the turkey tray dry on intake side, I still had vac leak.

Pulled the carb and rebuild again only to be a stupid gorilla and crack the front drivers post due to continued vac leaks. On hind sight, I think it may have been cracked and warped.

Had another 600 carb base but it had no vacuum ports on base. Had to switch out the accelerator pump arm.

Put both on glass and the cracked one was indeed warped.

So finally got her back together, crank the starter and it ran than diesel when turned off. Retimed to 10 Degrees nothing connected.

Had 21 Hg of vacuum at idle 1100 rpms.

Have carb spacer and have 2.25 turns out, mixture screws.

Ran nice, at 65 tack was steady as a rock, no miss, pulled hard and idle was good.

A few more touches to set carb and I' m back on the road.

Thanks to all who have pointed me in the right direction.

Don't want to work, want to get back out and dial her in. Pics to follow.

A happy happy olds man!

Dave.

 

Nice! Can't wait for the pics. How about a video?

 

I feel ya on this one brother. I brought mine home and thought I'd give it a good tune up. Two weeks later the engine was out and completely torn apart. Now it's a year later and she's back on the road. Time well spent though.

 

Glad it's running better after all your hard work.

 

Great persistant work - glad you won out!

Hope it shows an owl also, lol!!

 

Thanks all.

Working and trying to accommodate vacationing family in nearby Ocean City MD.

It's nice to be part of the Classic Olds family or at least very well welcomed.

Pics to follow.

Oh and Rob, I still haven't given up on old photos of "Swoopy". Difficulties with access, Argh.

Back to the grind...work...sand and beach, Dave.

 

Great to hear! I am very impressed by your patience and perseverance.

- Eric

 

It idles at 1100 rpm's? What happens if you turn the idle down?

 

Karma, its all good right?

Argh had Swoopyl up and running but not well and had to deal with the family going to the local beach, Ocean City MD, for a week.

All went well had a great time. Last day my old *** was body surfing, doing flips and swimming like I was 20, all was good. I was opening my eyes in the clear water and seeing shells and small crabs until... I saw a horseshoe crab. Bent down and picked it up alive thrashing about albeit slowly and showed to all the young kids, yup I'm the man.

So put it back and continue to enjoy and found a nice shell, turned my back and slam a wave breaks me in two. F'n shore breaks, dune building non natural...arghh..

Crap, it hurt and I know there will be repercussions. Kept swimming, had a few hineeys and all was well.

So long story short I was laid up two days and took a week before I was able to fuss with anything.

This week went back to swoopy, looked over settings, set dwell, checked timing at 10 degrees and decided for ***** and giggles to advanced timing to 15 degrees. Ran like a top, idled down to 400 RPMs and any miss or run-on was gone.

I was so concerned with timing and vacuum data that I forgot to play, enjoy this hobby, moving timing by ear and checking for total all in time, blipping throttle at my will!

I actually had fun and will play again tomorrow. Heck with initial timing set at 15 degrees, all vacuum lines disconnected but booster as it no leaky I decided to see full mechanical time. It went to about 35 to 38 degrees as I raced and held timing (no idea of rpms but mid way I'll bet 3000 to 3500) with other hand on throttle. I suspect it went higher to near 40, but did not miss, sounded tight and went to idle at 800.

My first time into a motor. I now know that interior engine parts must be perfect fit within tolerances and work as a single unit; all timing to perfection.

I think that my cam time may have been retarded a degree or two as it is a new timing chain and gears and put back together by a beginner without prior knowledge and tools such as a degree wheel.

With 15 degrees timing dwell at 30 degrees, mixture screws at 2.5 turns out (open spacer needs more? or is it a small 600 holly for a stock 1971 350?) I have 21 hg at 750 Rpms and 17.5 at 600 Rpms. Better than at 10 degrees of time at 1000 to 750 rpms obtaining a best of 15 hg.


I can't wait to play after work tomorrow testing and tuning.


Thanks to all that do, record and post.


The presentation is like being there, hands on experience. That combined with the vast amount of data on site and many minds that contribute knowledge, expertise and been there done that history, have greatly reduced my errors and time.


Much appreciated, Dave.

 

Dave
glad you were able to "get r done"
I noticed the fan shroud is missing?? I would hate to see you have running hot condition after all that hard work.
Pat

 

Great!

Let us know how she DRIVES.

- Eric

 

Drives great, but darn it has hesitation from stop. Prior to all this work, I had the 600 holly set up well, no miss idle was good and no miss or hesitation.

After the work; new timing chain and edelbrock preformer, spacer ( used spacer with 4 barrel intake ) new base plate, the car has hesitation.

The pump cam was matched perfect prior, but I think the new base plate has a different arm with I'm thinking is a different location of pump cam. This base plate has no vac ports (besides port on front meter plate) unlike my other vac secondary base plate with 2 ports in front and PCV on passenger side.

Got to work it out, otherwise the motor runs well, will smoke the peg leg 2.56s and spin second gear as the 350 trans has a good shift kit.

Vac gauge reads 20 to 21 at idle at 700 and wil idle lower too. Driving vac gauge reads 17.5 at 65 mph and 16 to 16.5 at 70. 15 Hg at 1100 slow cruise say 40 ish. Vac gauge is steady barely moving huts a little shake.

Cool to see the vac gauge go to 24 when throttle blades close while cruising and go near 5 and below when putting foot down.

Happy with the progress.

Had the rear side marker lights not work and reverse lights not work.

Rusty reverse light socket and I need to adjust the floor shift position to match gear.

Stupid me I spent 15 minutes tracing wires, testing to only find out the rear side marker lights are drive only and do not blink with blinker. Funny now.

Good news is I cleaned the side market terminals with salt/vinegar solution than to baking soda to stop process. Worked like a champ.

Now to fix the reverse socket as the driver is badly rusted.

Enjoying the car, driving kids to and from with many looks and thumbs ups.

Not many like this on the road.

Onward, Dave.

Oh and yes I agree I need a fan shroud.