I finally end up installing a 350ci into my firebird...everything went pretty good up to the point where i noticed my breaks didnt release when i turned on the ignition and when i shift in gear it shuts down...i cant figure out what i missed my break pedal is stiff just like my car never was in ON position...and when i put it in gear(automatic) it shuts down... (but when force to stay running while in gear...my carb spitts a ball of fire) i mean i got the timing as best as possible(havent used the light to get it exact yet) but i dont think that would be a problem cuz i had the 305ci built before i decided to drop a 350ci and i used exact the same carb and the intake on the 305 that i put on the 350...i did removed the charcoal canister thing (i was told i wont need it) my break booster works(i checked) and all of the vacuum hose were connected i dont know what else it could be...i mean i had exact problem when i had finished with the 305 and then i dont remember what i did to make it run cuz it ran but with me pressing the gas constantly and then if i let go it shuts down plus no torque whats so ever ..it barely moved flooring so thats what my 350 doing now and i cant figure out what it is...i might have a leak somewhere? could that be it? i hope i didnt confuse anyone in what i typed... lol....thanx

 

Sounds like you have a giant vacuum leak, probably where your power brake booster's vacuum line is supposed to hook up.

 

I checked for the leaks and stuff but couldnt find anything major...i even changed the carb(got 2 of them) and put new gaskets cuz i found a lil leak around it but that i dont think it would cuz the problem that im having...i'll double check that one though...

 

well....im about to start taking things back apart and see what i missed...seems like im having problem with vacuum...didnt expext this to happen after i was done with everything...but thats what happens when you get into something like this(installing a 350 by your self) without any experience in that field...hey at least it starts.............i would appreciate any help..thnx

 

Look at the back of the carb, at the base; there should be a large fitting there; there would ordinarily be a line going from that, to the power brake booster. You may have another fitting someplace that the booster is hooked to like in the manifold maybe, and the one needs to be plugged; or maybe you should move the PB line. But one way or another, that's where I'd expect the problem to be found.

 

Heres you the list of possible things... I gauruntee its one of these

1) Vacuum leak. What carb are you running? This way we can tell you exactly where all vacuum ports on it are so you can go out and check to make sure they're plugged.

2) Timing is off. You said you got the timing as best you could without a light - That means you have NO idea where the timings at. Its nearly impossible to guess especially since the car barely runs.

3) Firing order is wrong. Check and then recheck to make sure all the plug wires are going to the right cylinder.

4) Valve lash too tight. Did you adjust them or did you just buy a complete motor and drop it in? Either way they could be too tight.

 

The carb is a HOLLEY 650 (no choke.../ shaved) it has 3 vacuum openings the largest one on the back i have it connected to the break booster the one on the front is the one that goes to the tranny and the one in the top middle is just plugged...the carb is sitting on the performer edelbrock intake...now im using mallory distributor w/coil since the MSD that i have didnt give any spark (for some reason)...the engine came from a 1979 camaro 350ci 4 bolt main with flat top pistons .60 over...i replaced the cam with bigger one (cam lift .298/.298 valve lift .447/.447) changed the timing chain with double roller..got both sprocket timing marks aligned...#1 at TDC...i set up the firing order by the manual (firebird 82-92) 184365721...after finding out #1 firing by taking the #1 spark plug out and sticking a rag in the hole then crankin a lil by lil till it shoots out...(checked 4 times for firing order...redone everyhting 3 times)...the car starts and stays on without any problems(ones tuned somewhat) but when shift in gear it dies wouldnt it even start if it was out of timing big time? i mean i had adjusted the timing on my 305 by hand(moving the distributor) and it ran i had no problem with that...so back to 350...i noticed my spark plugs got dark(visible from the top) its burning too rich...all 8 cylinders are firing as far as i know...now... the valve lash could be off but i did go by the haynes repair manual (82-92 pontiac firebird) maybe THATS my problem the engine is not pontiac anymore way not pontiac (1979 chevy camaro) but adjusting the valves shouldnt be much different although it could be anyhow thats about it...i hope all that helped..please ask anything else if i missed something to add...(so frustrating... i had the car parked for few add ons carb /headers/intake on my 305 TBI then when got it done drove it around for 2 days(BIG difference) and then got a hook up on this 350...decided to drop it in and now it wont run...its been 5 month now) walking sucks.!

 

car not idling in gear:

1) Too lean. Turn the idle mixture screws out a few turns and try again. (could also be caused by a vacuum leak. Uncontrolled air getting into the motor = lean)

2) Timings off. Put a light on it, its the ONLY way you can know if its right or wrong... Theres no point in racking your brain out over this until you check the timing.

3) Idle RPM is too low.

4) Torque converter too tight for camshaft (unlikely)

 

thanx alot man i appreciate your help...im gonna go ahead and check all that ...see the only thing is that before it should idle in gear the break padal shold be released once the engine is started (in park) so that means something already is wrong cuz it shouldnt be that way....and i would only think of a vacuum leak somewhere but where could it leak if i used the carb choke cleaner spray to check for leaks around the intake /carb and where ever possible and couldnt find any...whats even worse is that when i first finished with the 305(did basically the same thing that i did to 350 used the same carb and the intake) and turned that key first time to start ..the car started with lil timing adjustment and when i pushed the break pedal it was stiff just like the 350 now is...and when i shifted in gear it would shut down but after messing with the timing(moving distributor around) and switching the vacuum hoses place to place...when started it all went well and the car just took OFF... see the whole point here is that the problem that im having now is the same problem i had with the 305 and fixing it i didnt haveto do anything major but just to mess with the stuff on top of the engine and the worst part is that i DONT remember what i did to have it right