I've recently switched my 82 z28 crossfire over to a carb. Im happy with the swap, no problems there. But the problem I do have is its got less power then the neighbor kids moped. Once I get it up to about 3000 rpm its good to go but from a stop its like starting a manual out in 3rd gear (this car is a 3spd auto)

For my swap I put on an edlebrock torquer II intake and an edlebrock performer 600 carb. I know this is a bit much to set on top a stock 305 but I just dont believe it should run as bad as it is. Im also using an hei with vaccuum advance set at a base of about ten degrees. I do plan on throwing a heavier spring on the carb to try to slow down the 4 barrels a bit since theyre kicking in almost instantly when I touch the pedal. And she lets a good puff of smoke on start up so maybe its too much fuel

I've been told to run full vaccuum instead of ported for advance but I dont see what it would help or how safe it would be.

But anyway,,, any tips?

 

Do switch to manifold vacuum for the vacuum advance. That intake is hurting your lower-RPM torque, and you can run a bit more initial. How much total advance do you have, without the vacuum? At what RPM is it all in?

 

I believe I had it at a base of about 10 and the total advance was like 34. I've been playing with in the shop right now and ive got it goin good with full vaccuum but I'm not sure what ive got it at cuz I only got my old light and not a digital display and I cant see much of my timing marks. Much better but still a slight hesitation.

 

And how hard is it on an old 305 to run full time advance like this. Like 36 degrees at idle seems like a bit much, not that I really need it to last much longer

 

Port and polish your heads.

 

It's gotta be the intake killing your low end torque if it feels good at 3k+ RPMs. They're rated for 2500+ RPM operation, so you're not far off considering that's likely a ballpark number for a mild-hot 350+ cubic inch engine. Put it on a mostly stock 305 and I think you get a car that's a dog at low RPMs, plus you dont have the stall to compensate for it.

At idle try to keep the timing between 10 and 20... for a mostly stock engine 12-15 is probably just right, but 10 should still work okay. 32-36 is probably the "ideal" range for full advance, just be careful about spark knock. If 34 is safe for you, dont worry too much about advancing it further. The sluggishness of your car is mostly that intake.

 

Couple things:
1. Vacuum advance is completely out of the picture, during anything over ~ 1/2 throttle and certainly at WOT, which we're talking about here. For now, and for the purposes of this issue (lack of power at WOT) don't worry about the vacuum advance. It's not doing anything.
2. Compounding the issue of the wrong intake for your stock/small combo, is the '82's terrible rear gear and 3 speed trans. You need more gear, converter, cam and head...for that intake. Really, you need a more appropriate intake.

Too bad you didn't work with the CFI, it actually works pretty darn well when properly worked on.

 

I agree that the intake is the problem. I have an internally stock 305 and run an Edelbrock Performer EPS (rated from idle to 5500 rpm) with a Holley 670 Street Avenger and it makes lots of low end torque and is smooth thru the entire power band with a non-cc vacuum distributor set around 12 deg at idle.

 

Well yea I get what your sayin. I didnt put the intake on for power, just didnt want to put money into crossfire injection. Knew it wouldnt be the best but itll work for a few weeks til ivegot a real motor for it

 

You may reconsider. The CFI really shouldn't take much money; either to run right or to perform well. Very simple system.

 

Yea im sure it could very well have been something simple and I didnt spend a whole lot of time on it, but even if I had I never planned to keep the 305 in it for long anyway