Well, I got everything hooked up and ran my new 350 for the first time today. I started to break the cam in, but my plug wires melted through to quick. I figured they would because I need shorty plugs. They were old wires anyway. I couldnt hardly get the car to idle(didnt try to much because I was breaking in cam). I set the timing and then brought the rpms up. I had one wire that I questioned before I started. I plan on getting shorty plugs and some new wires(hopefully next weekend) and try to run it again. With the motor in sig what do you think I should set the timing to. What should this cam idle at? When I started it I didnt know exactly what rpms I was at because the tach wire wasnt cliped in good. I think it cam undone when I had to pull the distributer cap out of the way and move the distributer over a tooth. Anyway, when it was having problems running it was like I could kind of pump the gas lightly(not very far down and get it to rev back up. Does this sound like it is from the spark plug wires or do you think it is something else? Thanks for the help.

Ben

 

Hard to say for sure, just be conservative at first. Would hate to see detonation tear up a new engine!

Congratulations on getting it in there and started!

 

Conservitive how(timing)? I set it at 8. Do you have any suggestions. I didnt hear any detonation. It was running through open headers. One header has an extension on it with the oxygen sensor in it. Need to change it for a heated o2 sensor sometime soon but I am on a limited budget currently.

Ben

 

pic a week or 2 ago

 

It's actually hard to hear detonation at low rpm's. It's easier heard at higher rpm's and under a load. So just standing there while the car is running at about 2000rpm, you may not hear it and it is actaully happening. It can claim pistons and head gaskets in a matter of seconds if it happens. Just watch the amount of advance you have in there and don't run it too lean. Just reminders, I'm sure you knew that already. I would also hate to see detonation claim a new engine.