Well I highly suggest getting a re-curve kit so you can get the timing to advance to full advance quicker (as in at lower RPM) and set it to a more aggressive curve. I don't know that much about doing it with a stock HEI, but there are springs and weights that will do the advancing and they can be changed to get a desired timing curve. Currently yours is setup for a stock engine that needs to pass emissions and get good mileage so it will definately not be helping things as far as power output with your list of upgraded parts....

Maybe one of the carb guys that uses a factory HEI distributor can help you out from here on what to get and where. Otherwise you could get an aftermarket distributor like an MSD or Mallory that usually come with an assortment of advance curve parts and instructions on how to get what you want for a setup in it. I'm an FI guy and our timing settings are all in the PROM....

 

best bet is to start with a generic recurve kit,mr gasket or spectre,use the new mechanical weight bushings but reuse the stock weights(you'll have to pry the old bushings out).try a combination of a silver and blue spring first(yes,you can mix n match!).and listen for ping.if your dcr is above 8,you might try the heaviest springs first.also,are you using aluminum heads?i hope so!if your static c.r. is over 11.0/1 you will be mixing raing gas with iron heads!
i can highly reccomend the msd in cap module and coil if you're looking to upgrade your dist. a bit.
also a crane adjustable vaccum advance canister will give you almost all the tuning you will need(although the new billet distributors have mechanical advance limiting bushings)
it's a lot of trial and error to get ignition and distributor timing dialed in ,but it's truly worth it!
Eric

 

holy crap that sounds like its alot of work and trial and error.... there is no other distributor that i could just buy the whole thing ready to fall into my block? cuz that sure would be easiest... and yes they are edelbrock aluminum rpm heads with 64cc chambers, 2.02/1.6, static compression is about 10.9:1

 

Oh yeah, that is just the procedure for recurving a stock HEI distributor as far as all the work involved....

MSD and Mallory (probably others) make distributors that are much easier to work with as far as tuning it. They come with springs and bushings that are very easy to change our along with instructions on what set of parts equals what timing setup.

But no matter what you will have to do some trial and error (also known as tuning) to get the very best performance out of your combination. That's just a fact of life in this hobby... But like SLEEPER 86 said, it is more than worth it and really necessary if you want longevity and good performance out of your engine.

 

I've been hijacked.

 

Update us man, any new progress pictures? How are things coming along?

Take back ye thread matey!!! ARRRR!

 

oops!Sorry!
Eric

 

Added 1 more pic.

Im taking my time on this build up. Doing a few things everyday. Put the hub on, distributor, waterpump, balancer, motor mount clamshells, dipstick, and my filty headers from when the last engine exploded and got oil everywhere:

http://community.webshots.com/album/323874290BmlIfb

 

looking good. i'm going to be going through the LT1 in mine in a month or so. i'll have to keep track of what you're getting out of it. i'm going with a 6" rod 355 with this one though using mahle pistons. that is one fine ride you have there. i miss my third gens.

 

Just put the oil pump and windage tray on. Had to shim the windage tray with 2 washers for each nut to clear the stroke on the crank. It needed only 1 but I went with two to be safe. Tomorrow im gonna put the pan and intake on and have it done.

 

Got my intake and throttle body on, just need to put the oil pan on tomorrow and she is ready to drop in .

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...49018662nwFMKx

 

Can't wait to get mine done, starting it next week, bottom end already together, just picked up heads yesterday. Still waiting on head gaskets, needed something to lower my compression, was going to be around 13:1, which was way to high. Know I need to send my intake to John and finish it. Will let everyone know how it comes out when finished

 

And then g o d said.....let their be 383 cubes in this engine.......uhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...49908205szShqP

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...49910633hBtvYH

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...49904234PymNex

 

Got it in the car . Depending on how lazy I am, I may start it tonight or weight ti'll tomorrow afternoon. Im sweatin like a pig, it was 101* outsides while I was putting it in and doing some last minute crap like the flyweehl, clutch, etc...

 

GOOD JOB MAN!!! Looks great, and I bet its going to sound twice as mean! I bet thats a good feeling..

Are you sticking with the shorty headers or going long tubes?

whats your plan for tuning?

I can't believe its that warm in TX already! Up here, we love the days when it gets above 70.
It looks like the dog is a major asset to the engine program at Pasky racing....

 

Shorties, I wanted to go long tube changed my mind, my ground clearance sucks with the v6 front springs as it is. I really don't see the big deal with long tube vs short tube. I was making plenty of power with the shorties before. I got everything installed on the engine, wiring is all hooked up and all that mumbo jumbo. I ran into problems with my spohn xmember last night and called it a night, only thing left is that crossmember, driver shaft and put the shifter back on the tranny and I can fire it up and take it for a ride.