Cascade Crew

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

If there is anyone here in the Everett area that is willing to help I need some help tuning my Firebird. It has a carburated 305 that doesn't seem to want to stay in the same configuration from one drive to the next. It also will only run fairly rich, I can lean it out but then it doesn't want to idle. If I turn it up to get it to idle smoothly and get the highest manifold vacuum I can smell unburnt gas in the exhaust and it diesels sometimes when I turn the key to off.

If anyone wants to help I can offer a case of beer or something but that's about it.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject:

hey dude, I'm in Everett and have an old Holley on my rig. I could stop by and tinker with it with ya but i am NO MEANS A "CARB TUNER GURU". I can poke around and play with em a bit but not like some of the others around here.

Where abouts in E town are you? I'm off evergreen way by the boeing freeway.

~JAKE

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I live in the Avalon apartments off 128th/Airport Rd, Behind the home depot on evergreen.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject:

Dieseling sounds like timing and heat.

chevymad · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Or just way too fast an idle. Some rigs are just going to smell like fuel at idle too. Especially with a holley. Sometimes it will clean up.. but dont expect it.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

It idles at about 1,200 right now I'd like it to be lower but if I turn it down it dies as soon as I put it in gear and haven't been able to get it to do otherwise without setting my idle high.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject:

I'm not anywhere close to an expert tuner, and I still have plenty of questions for the guys on the forum, but your problems sounds like my Monterey (235@050) when I was first tuning it.

First thing I did was switch the advance can to full manifold vacuum. (should be the port under the primary bowl on a Holley). Then adjust initial up till the car is happy at idle, and adjust your mechanical down till you end up in the 32-36 range at max mechanical advance.

The Merc likes 28-30* at idle, 34* max at WOT, and around 40-46* at cruise. I have a feeling that might change though when I get better exhaust and dial the carb jets back down.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

I'll give it a shot. I originally had my advance hooked to full manifold vacuum and the car idled fine but was very sluggish all around. I switched to the ported fitting and everything seemed better at the time. I'll fool around tomorrow with my distributor. I don't know what kind of mechanical curve it has in it right now but considering it came with a 65KV coil I'd assume it was tuned for performance but I don't really want to assume anything at this point.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

Setting timing:

Unhook and plug the vacuum line to the dizzy, rev the motor to about 3000rpm and set timing to 34deg.

Then plug the vacuum line back in, on manifold. Some vacuum pods are adjustable so if it pings at anytime stick an allen wrench in where the vacuum line hooks up and see if you can adjust it.

You want 34-36 vac unplugged for max performance. The vacuum advance helps milage and stuff.

Is this a stock cam/head motor? If so you should be around 18hg and idling at 750 or so.