chevymetal

For anyone who might remember the 305, I've blown it up, and moved onto a 350.
Edelbrock 1406 carburetor, Holley Intake Manifold, stock everything else.

For the most part it is running well, I got it up to 110-120 on the freeway yesterday, and it felt like it was still accelerating.
But my problem is the initial acceleration. The 305 had great torque, and when stomped on from a dead stop, would almost "take a breath" and then just start screaming. That engine could hold it's own against a lot of cars, until they caught up, and beat it. But the launch was good.
The 350 however doesn't really accelerate quickly. It takes it's time, and really hauls *** in terms of top speed, but it doesn't launch well. It doesn't even do the "taking a breath" thing that I liked about the 305. It just starts to go when you floor it, and goes equally as fast at about 1/2 throttle, or 3/4 throttle. There isn't a difference in launch speed.

So. Do you think this is Carb related, a timing issue, trans, all of the above, or something different all together?

I appreciate any input, and thanks again for all the help.
This place made all of this possible.

-Chris

Project: 85 2.8 bird

you'll get better help in the carb section. the 'take a breath" is it bogging, then it catches up. the just as fast @ 1/2 & 3/4 throttle, could need som enew secondary rods, but since I haven't needed to worry about carter/edelcrotch carbs I'll say no more. Also check that your throttle plates are opening fully when the go pedal is mashed.

chevymetal

Yeah, they definately open all the way, I checked that when I adjusted the TV cable, wanted to make sure it was actually reaching WOT.

But you say it sounds like the carburetor for sure?

I'll post over there too.

Thank you!

montesa311

classic rochester quadra-bog

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

How so?

montesa311

lol, whoops missed that part... is that vac secondaires?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Yep. Non-adjustable.

I seriously doubt it's the carb.

90Formula-X-F

I'd look at the timing. Infact bring it up ( Advance it ) till it pings and take it back a bit and see where your at.run it there and see how it performs. if it's really high you might have an advance issue or a spun balancer.

chevymetal

I checked the timing, and it was at about 12 so I've got it at what I think is around 6 and it's doing a bit better.

By balancer are you talking about a harmonic balancer?
And pardon my ignorance, but what does "spun" mean in whatever you are referring to?

I was looking at some MSD distributors yesterday, and I'm wondering if it would be worth the cash. Right now I'm running a J-Yard distributor, and I think that may be an issue.

Probably the weakest link on the engine.
I'm definitely still learning.

90Formula-X-F

The balancer is basicly 2 pieces of steel with a rubber issolater ring between them. I've seem many that the outter ring turns on the rubber which misaligns the timing marks. I've seen them spin and slide back into the timing cover and wear a hole in that too.

chevymetal

Any way to check if it's bad?

90Formula-X-F

see if it's slid backwards toward the ting cover - bring #1 to TDC and see if it's where it looks to be right

flyitlikustolit

btw.... the 1406 is a mech secondaries carb. I ran one til i pulled my motor.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Technically, it is not. It has mechanically actuated butterflies on the throttle body, true, but air flow is controlled by a demand-base "air valve" above the TB. A mechanical secondary carb only has mechanically opened butterflies, no demand-based control.

It may not be totally accurate to call Edelbrock's "vacuum secondaries", but it is even more inaccurate to call them "mechanical secondaries".