ok heres the deal..i just completed mods in my sig and now for some reason the engine doesnt seem to have the power i thought!! heck i could probably still get out ran by a LT1!!!this combo should net lots of touqre and about 375 rear wheel hp. thats not the whole problem!! the engine also has a NEW melling high volume, high pressure oil pump!! and it currently holds 25-30psi in o.d. on the highway completely warmed up.i thought the things were supposed to hold about 50-60?? the whole engine is new bearing rings ....everything!!the clearances were right within spec. but, the engine never has ran right?? and low oil pressure!!!ummm im saying that the bearing are going?? it has about 12000 miles on the build. the timing is set at 36 degrees. the idle mixture is been set and re-set!!with and without the vacuum guage. i currenly pull about 12 degrees of vacuum advance. all advance is in by 3000 rpm?? so why the bad performance? why the bad pressure??? the carb is also new and im going to give it a going thrugh today and check the floats and what not! please if anyo0ne reads this please to god help!!!!! also im running 10w40 motoroil(castrol gtx).

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89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

 

Is that 20-25 at idle warm? if so, you are fine. My new 383(500 miles) goes to 60-70 pressure cold, then 35-45 down the highway warm, idle about 20.
Check fuel pressure,timing and see where those are at.

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350 4 bolt main, Speed-O-Motive 383 stroker kit, re-sized rods ground for clearance,TRW Forged pistons,10.7:1 compression,HPC Coated RPM intake, Speed Demon 750 cfm carb,World Products Sportsman II heads,2.02/1.60 valves, Comp Cam 1.6 roller rockers, Comp Xtreme 284 cam,240/246@.050 with .540 lift,Crane pushrods,ATI damper,Proform HEI and MSD6A box,HPC coated 1 5/8 headers, 2.5" exhaust with 40 series mufflers,TH350 with B&M 3000 stall, Powertrax NoSlip Locker, 4.11 gears.

 

As i said that pressure is at warm operating temps and also it's on the highway!!with a high volume pump it should be pushing about 50 going down the road!!the timing is at 36 degrees and the fuel pressure is at 5psi. so all that is fine. what about the other problems i stated?? can you guys futher help on all problems...?thanks!

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89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

 

I'd say that if you oil pressure is ok at idle, and nothing is heating up, you're probably fine. You're right, with the pump you have, it should be higher, but you never can quite be sure exactly what you're going to have when you mix and match things.

As far as your lack of power, I'd look at the cam. That's the same cam that many chose for 305's, and is a good selection for that car, it's what I'm running in mine. For your engine, perhaps you should look for something a little larger?

Another place to look at for poor performance (I'v been dealing with this by the truck load lately) is ignition. Upgrading older ignition parts with new, even stock replacements, is a large improvement. I've run into that on just about every older car I've ever owned or worked on. Replacing the ignition components does wake up the engine.

 

ok all the ignition parts are new. even the dis. is new!! the cap rotor etc. is new all of it!! i chose that cam because i didnt have money for a stall(700r-4's stall is expensive!!)and because it closely matched the intakes starting range 1500 the cam starts at 1300 almost perfect for the intake and no hesitation off the line. thw oil pressure isnt fine at all at idle!! it sets at about 10psi at idle!!(when its warm!) and yes,.. for all who might ask THE OIL PRESSURE GUAGE IS FINE!

------------------
89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

[This message has been edited by burnoutrpm (edited March 20, 2001).]

 

I had similar problems, all caused by that cheap *** proform HEI. Do yourself a favor and get a crane adjustable vacuum advance kit and a Mr. Gasket HEI curve kit. Install the vacuum advance limiter plate to remove as much vacuum advance as possible and screw the rate adjustment all the way in. This will still leave you with about 6 degrees which is perfect for 99% of small blocks without EGR. Use the lightest springs on the curve kit. Once the car is running, if you hear any part throttle ping just back the rate adjuster out a little at a time until it's gone. Trust me, you will be glad you did this. Also, I replaced the coil and module at ~1500 miles after getting stranded twice. I won't buy ANYTHING Proform again.


Edit: spelling misteaks



[This message has been edited by Racerwannabe (edited March 20, 2001).]

 

With that high-volume oil pump, did you get a higher volume oil pan?

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89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

Bingo., a HV pump can cause air to be induced because there is insufficient oil volume in the pan.

 

IF you had your crank ground i would suspect that they took to mutch thrust off the crank
leaving a space between bearing and crank.
Its common and you will probably have to talk to the person that did the crank work to see exactly what was done when the crank was turned. I would also check to see if the pickup tube is incorrect. Melling makes a special high volume pump that needs mods to fit in the pan. also did you change the spring in the oil pump? the pumps come assembled with the low pressure spring and you have to change the spring to the extra one that came with it. Id get the oil pressure fixed before messing with the power part.GM factory specs call 40psi at 2000 rpm with a warm engine normal.

------------------
85 Camaro RS 350/350 stealth intake, holley street avenger 670
true dual exhaust. "ButtStang killer"
82 firebird 305 all original - the cat and smog crap."All show No go"

 

stock pan yes, but, the special pickup WAS installed. i talked to mike evans and another guy at yearone tech becuase the guys at nextgen were stummped. they said it could be the cam bearings. the crank is turned professionaly .10/.20 and i installed the bearings to match. also the rods were comletely reconditioned. and are using the right specs as far as bearings. the pump could suck the pan dry but, from what i understand not likely, ive seen 5 different engines with this same pump on 350's with no problems and they were using the stock pan too. could it be the cam bearings?? maybe when they installed them at the machine shop they made a mistake??the car runs like a bitch when i actually have pressure after it loses pressure....well... it then blows!!!(no power!!) also revs hard even on easy acceleration!! but when it has high pressure(about the first 15 mins of operation) it runs really good!!any more ideas guys?? i really need this engine to hold together i cant afford the 400 yet!! heck i havent even found a suitable canidate for a block!!!! oh yeah just to mention...all the bearings and everything was clearanced right within specs!!

------------------
89 firebird formula

356 10.5:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
sportsman 2 heads 64cc 2.02/1.60 valves 200cc intake runner
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!


future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!