i have an 86 camaro with a 350 out of a 70 impala. my setup is a performer rpm manifold, lunati cam with .425 gross lift. roller rockers, headers,the heads and intake have been ported. and it has also been bored out .60 over, and finally the carb i'm running is an edelbrock 600cfm carb.
it seems to me that the car doesn't seem to be running all that great ever since i got the heads ported. so my rough idea of the situation would be that the carb needs to be adjusted or perhaps i need a better fuel pump. but if someone could give me an idea of what i need to do that would be great.
thanks guys

 

You can start off by buying my Holley Street Avenger Double Pumper

 

Start with a engine compression test. No amount of carb tuning will overcome a internal engine problem or a intake manifold or carb gasket vacuum leak. Most carb problems are actualy ignition problems. Cap/rotor/ wires/ plugs.

t seems to me that the car doesn't seem to be running all that great ever since i got the heads ported.

Many novice head porters hog out the intake port openings to "match the gasket" Usually making them so big that the available gasket sealing area around the port opening can no longer get a good grip on the gasket and it gets sucked in under vacuum. Check for a intake manifold vacuum leak.
if the intake port openings are now huge, you may have to glue the intake gasket to the head to get it to stay sealed.
Do not use silicone or RTV gasket sealer on the intake gasket around the ports. Install clean and dry or "glue" them on allowing time to harden/cure using something like Seal- Al or gasket cement.

Be sure to retorque the intake manifold bolts after a few heat cycles. Aluminum intakes always need retorqing. if you don;t the gaskets will get sucked in.

 

cap,rotor, and wires are all brand new. but i'll check for a vacuum leak

 

actually to add to that i forgot that the mechanic sat a couple wires on the header and they cracked somewhat. could that be par tof my problem?
or do i need ot step up to another carb?
i'm obviously not that experienced with cars. i'm just a guy who started out building a cool thirdgen but now i'm just trying to get it to run right. so anymore advice would rock

 

sorry about the tiple post.
the heads were ported by a guy thats been in the business since that late fifties. and he doesn't have an interns working for him. so i figure he did the ports right. but i could be wrong

 

like I said most "carb problems" are most times actually ignition problems, wether new parts or other wise. Cracked Ignition wires that have been burned on the headers tubes are definatly an issue.

There is likely nothing wrong with your carb, itself.
After correcting the real problems it can be sharpened up with tuning and tweeking.
You do not need a new carb. You need to fix the ignition system. Secondary you may have a vacuum leak.

 

ok thanks for the advice man. i'm sorry for seeming so dumb. i'm new to the whole car thing. obviosuly the wires are the main problem and vacuum leak secondary but please excuse my ignorance by what and how do i check the ignition system?