I have a "71" Cutlass Supreme with a 350 motor.To give it some get up and go I added: headers and a flowmaster exhaust,posi and new gears(was 2:56 now 3:42),new cam (edlebrock #3712),carb edlebrock 600cfm,intake OL4B (which I think is the same as a performer rpm),and lastly an HEI ignition.

The problem is I have all top end and no bottom torque!My timing is set to specs so Im going to advance it to see if that helps.If that dosent help should I put my original stock intake back on with my quad?I'm thinking I may have the wrong combination set up. Im looking for mild performance with the best of both worlds!Any suggestions would be apprciated.Thanks, Rudy

 

From your description, your combo should work. The thing I would look at much closer is your timing. You said your timing is set to specs. If you set it to the specs of points distributor, your timing is way off. Hei ignitions can handle a lot more advance. This should give you the bottom end punch you are looking for.

Worst case scenario, your cam could be installed retarded. It is allways a good idea to degree a camshaft at time of install. Degreeing a cam will rule out a poor quality timing chain or incorrect installation.

Later on, I might suggest you install a recurve kit for your distributor. It comes with weights, center bar and three sets of springs for a custom timing curve. Also a great idea to install an adjustable vacum advance canister. I've used the mr gaskets kits, crane and moroso timing curve kits. I really like the moroso one. Good luck.

 

I agree with Don in that the Cam phasing is out . I have seen way too many timing sets that are retarded when installed with the dots lined up. In one 350 I built the cam was 6 degrees ret. installed straight up before I degreed it. I set most of my street-perf. motors at 2 degrees adv.

Hope this helps

 

I dont know your cam specs but if too big you may need a higher stall torque converter to let the engine rpms come up some before you take off...that will help....Just a Thought.

 

Set timing at 20* at 900rpm, set total at 36 at 2500 then readjust idel.
Like others have said, you may need to degree the cam. I have also seen many timing sets be off. mainly the cheap billet looking ones from China.

Geno

 

Thanks for all the input.I was told by a few people about the timing and if I degreed the camshaft(which I didnt even know what that meant at the time I installed it).This confirms what I need to do.Thanks again for the help and Ill let you know how it turns out.