But now I have some carburetion issues to work out... Couldn't get it to run at first, and it was trying to but backfiring through the carb (so I probably blew out the power valve--this is a Holley 750 double pumper). I knew it was timing issue, so I pulled off both valve covers and labeled all the intake rockers, and Anna and I watched and wrote down which ones engaged in what order. Finally got what I thought was right, and turned the key and nothing...just turning over without firing. Anna said "shoot some starter fluid in there" and I said "if it isn't firing, it wont matter..." and so I did and it started right up and idled just fine at 750rpms But now when I even touch the gas, it dies. It ran at idle for about 20 minutes and got it up to 170 degrees while I topped off the trans fluid and made sure there was enough coolant. Any suggestions on the carb? It is probably important to say that during the past month, while I was working on the engine, I snagged the carb on my shirt and it dropped 4' to the floor. Not sure if that messed something up or not... I am afraid I may need to either rebuild this one (which it needed anyway) or buy another...
Yeah, that first celebratory beer is nice Really would like to figure out what I need to do to the carb so I can rev it and pi$$ off the neighbors. Funny thing is I have been out all morning trying to figure out the timing problem and have been off each time. All the neighbors are out washing their cars, cleaning the yard, etc. on this 80* sunny day. They keep looking at me when I try to get it running, and then go back to their daily routines when it backfires and dies. When it finally started running, They all looked surprised, especially when I said really loud "YUP!!! You got it Anna!"
At least I am pretty sure at this point that the engine will run... Just have to work out what is going on with the carb, and Holleys are COMPLETELY new to me.
Congratulatins Scott. I look forward to that feeling myself. Probably 12-18 months away though. It was good seeing you and Anna yesterday. Thanks for the block!
It ended up with the HO firing order. I had it off by 45 degrees or so first, then 180, and then Anna helped me track down where I was and nail it. The problem was with lining up the dist gear and oil pump...I finally got it to TDC and just used a ratchet on the oil pump until it would drop all the way down without traveling too far from straight (you know what I mean here, right). First time I could get it to line up but the distributor had to be put in way toward advanced in order for everything to line up and for it to drop all the way in. Then it would only drop in on the next or previous plug wire, then I finally got it so the distributor was facing almost straight ahead when lined up with the rotor. That is where I locked it down. It still needs to be fine-tuned for advance, but I have to work this carb issue out first.
I backed off the accel pumps completely, because I thought it was flooding it dead, then changed the oil, and started it back up. This time instead of slowly accelerating, I gunned it and it went right up to 3000 rpms. Now it runs just fine. I had to adjust the primary accel pump a little, and now I will adjust them both correctly and see how it runs. But overall, it sounds ready for the road.
Congrats Scott and Anna! Sounds like an accelerator pump arm may have gotten bent during the carb drop. Here is a decent tuning artoicle for the pumps. http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articleviewer.asp?pg=pht20000718hm&print=true
I can take a video, but I haven't figured out how to convert video to something everyone else can watch. My vid camera takes 8mm (or something like that) and I have to "burn" it to mpeg or something.
