What kind of performance and economy can I possibly get from the 290 hp crate engine from summit with an edelbrock 1406, MSD street fire vac advance dizzy and box, a good dual plane intake and headers? And what kind of tuning should be done to maximize both ends of the spektrum? ...like timing, jetting, metering rods, etc. just curious if anyone would know right off the bat here.
everything is running well but now it's all broken in and I'm looking to get it dialed in.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...9529/overview/

thanks

 

What's your performance measuring stick? 1/4 mile ET? 0-60' time? Lap time around Nürburgring?

The only true way to dial-in a carb tune is with a wide band O2. To dial-in timing requires a load performance measurement such as dyno or drag strip. Cruise timing optimization can be done by trial & error to advance it as much as possible until you get pinging, then back it off a couple of degrees.

If you still have 3.08 gears, you should be able to get mid-20's MPG with "gentle" driving. 1/4 mile times will probably be in the high-14's with traction.

 

I ran high 14s with a stock 305 TPI with around 215hp. Undoubtly the 350 would get much better? But i am curious to see what that 290hp crate engine will do. I have thought serious on buying one more than once.

 

thanks for the replies guys. Based on driving around for the first 5000 miles or so I'd say the engine is good. But I wouldn't say I'm a good judge as I've never been much of a "car guy". Sure I love em, but I was never into racing em or mod-ing them so I really can't say other than it runs well so far and feels plenty strong for my needs.

With that said, yes, I was a little vague about everything mostly because by my standards performance is being able to stomp it at a light and not have it fall on it's face or blow up. hahaha. I'll never take it to the track but just wanted a fun daily driver. I am mostly on the hwy so hwy mpg is a surely a main goal.
I left it wide open knowing that there are people on the forum that probably already tried certain timing, jetting, metering rod combos that worked better with that combo.

I pretty much got the cruise timing down already like you advised, Five 7 kid. what I wasn't happy about was that I had to disconnect the vac advance to do it. I tried to use a 3/32 allen key to adjust it and I swear the screw isn't in there. Which means that when it's hooked up it is set at adding full vac advance (way too much). This kinda sucks cuz the stuff is all new, but I'm wondering if the guy I had get the stuff in the car tried to adjust it and f'ed it up for me. A new vac advance is about $15 so not the end of the world but still just another hassle I didn't want.

I am in the early stages of my hwy fuel runs and I plan to try some different combos but was hopeful to find out if someone here already went as lean as "xxx" jets and metering rods and that's the limit or if this engine likes a certain jet size on the secondaries after leaning out the primaries so far, etc.
Being just a guy who is tinkering around and scouring the web as he learns I knew this was a great place to ask.
Thanks again for the replies!

 

oh and btw, I do but still am only getting high teens with VERY gentle driving all hwy. mid 20's was my hope if I can get it dialed in. thanks again