I feel like I'm starting to be a nuisance :P

I would like to know how to set the timing on my engine. It's a 383, with a Holley 3310-4 (Vac Sec. 750) with a Vac. Adv. Dist. (Obviously) It seems to fall flat on its face if I romp on the gas, not driving it yet, it's on jack stands, so I figure it might be a timing issue.

From the bits and pieces I've been able to gather, I'd have to first take the vac. adv. hose off, and fiddle with the idle mixture screw?

I'm lost after that. So some help would be appreciated.

 

It's unlikely you'll notice a timing issue with the vehicle sitting on jackstands. If the engine starts and runs, timing is fine for now unless it's really out of whack. Base timing typically depends on cam specs. Total timing for most people is a guess. As long as it doesn't ping under a heavy load, the total timing is usually close enough. The old way of advancing the timing until it pings under load then back it off a few degrees will work but is usually nowhere close to being the best setting.

If it falls on it's face when you hit the throttle, it sounds like a fuel issue. Hitting the throttle quickly can have 2 effects. Normally it's a sudden lean situation as the butterflies are suddenly opened. This is why carbs have squirters. They provide an extra shot of fuel into the incoming air to compensate for all that sudden extra air. Not enough fuel and the engine has a lean stumble.

It could also be a rich stumble by providing too much fuel. Under normal situations, this isn't as common as the lean stumble.

Accelerator pump cams and squirters can be changed to affect how much extra fuel is being put in and when during the movement of the throttle.

How old is the carb? I really hate the 3310's. Nobody ever seems to have a new one. Old ones just keep getting sold to someone else. Most are so worn out, they're only good for spare parts.

 

Don't know how old it is, but It's been rebuilt very recently, on the order of 2 months or less. The engine was actually broken in on it, so it might be the lean condition you said. The Fp gauge reads at about 4 psi, should it be a bit higher?

 

4 psi may work depending on the engine's fuel demand but 6 is better.