I have a '67 Riv w/ the stock 430. I dropped a stock HEI unit in from a '76 455. I like it except that the advance curve seems way off. It runs good at idle and 3/4 to full throttle and pings like crazy at part throttle conditions. I have to back the timing way off to get the part throttle timing to work. Is there a spring kit or different vacuum advance I should be using? Can I send it out somewhere to be recurved?
Since this e/mail program on the site is still from the dark ages with regard to sending pictures impossible, send me a regular e/mail and I'll send you pics of how to correctly restrict the amount of degrees the vacuum advance should put out, so you can use it on full manifold vacuum, like it should be. A simple, easy to make at home stop is all that is needed. sparkman451@earthlink.net Other than that, find a late 70's/early 80 Chevy Suburban HEI and steal the weights/center ojt of it, as they should be weights 41, center 375, which is more in the ballpark than any of the other 410 different curve patterns possible with HEI weight/center combos, and light years closer than any aftermarket curve kit will give you. When you find those parts, spring the curve to start at 100 rpms over out of gear idle speed, then stop the curve as soon as possible without encountering detonation/pinging, someplace near 2,500 rpms.
Same, face still paralyzed on the left, and no power accessories working, still talking like Georgie Jessel, still working in the shop. VA Hospital says another three weeks until a non-service related ailment appointment, then Article 99 to get it dialed, so this stroke will have to just hold itself until I get there and looked at. It's going to have to be tougher than I am, as being shot three times and lots of other stuff hasn't been able to kill me yet. I think it'll lose!
Dave - If anything is going to help you get over this stroke its the attitude and determination that you show My father had a stroke 3 years ago with left side paralysis being the physical damage but the thing affected most is the part of the brain that controls initiative and motivation. He can move his left arm, fingers, leg....etc but without the drive and motivation to do so its a lost cause, So he sits in a wheelchair not walking much and doesn't use his left arm at all. I was living at home for the first 2 years of recovery and did my best to provide motivation but without his determination to try.....it was of little help, not to mention frustrating for me !! Good luck in your recovery - there are many organizations (Stroke club for one) that are there to help you. .... Dont let it beat you !!!
Dave - Sorry to hear that!!! If anyone can beat it - it WILL be you!!!:TU: I'll be praying for a speedy recovery.
Sparkman, You da man! I installed the vacuum advance stop as you suggested and it works great. Now it rattles just a little at high load. I made it slotted though so I'll fine tune and add a little more vacuum advance. Get better. Thanks for the help.
Ignition man, I'm still confused on how you say that vacuum advance should be hooked to manifold vacuum? As soon as you throttle it the vacuum drops, thus retarding the timing briefly. Cause's a nasty stumble. I know on fast cars and race cars people have full advance at start up, but my little stock 350 wouldn't work like that. This adjustment you talk about to the vacuum advance. Does this eliminate the retarding that occurs? Or are such adjustments irrelevent on stockers? I hope you are feeling better.
Dan, I also had some questions about ported and full time vacuum advance. I say run it both ways, and see which you like better. I still run ported because I think my motor likes that better. If you have a stumble off idle with full manifold vacuum, your mechanical advance is wrong or not responding correctly as you open the throttle. Awhile back I e-mailed the ignitionman to get his opinion on why he likes full time vacuum. This was his response: "I'm a full manifold vacuum kinda person. I use it to keep the initial timing down for easy starting and then add the vacuum degrees for the higher idle timing the engine likes. Also since the vacuum advance is actually a load compensator, I use full manifold vacuum for them, allowing the engine, at low to no load/idle to have the timing it likes for those modes, then drop it off when needed for acceleration. As I said, conservative initial, add vacuum, such as 12 initial, 8 vacuum, starts the engine at 12, idles it at 20. All I have ever seen of ported vacuum advance is two things. An EGR equipped engine needs it, and when used on a non EGR equipped engine, makes it ping.. If an non EGR engine actually needs ported vacuum advance to increase performance, the mechanical advance is incorrect. This is proven by many many dragrace and roadrace engines that use mechanical advance only, quite sucessfully." Hope that answers your question.
So what I'm getting here is that I need lighter springs so that the mechanical advance kicks in before the vacuum drop retards it??????????????? I'd like it to work both ways so I can experiment. As it is now it works fine. Starts fine, vacuum advance works, mechanical advance works. (this is on ported). However, I'm trying to milk every tenth outta this car to get into the 14s. Thanks Larry and Dave:TU:
Good Luck Dave, Sorry to hear about the stroke. I agree, your attitude, motivation and determination will make the difference. My Mom had two strokes, both paralyzing her entire left side. She recovered FULL use of her body BOTH times. She has since passed away but an incredibly strong woman nonetheless, a hero of mine for many reasons. Through the strokes, brain tumor and a myriad of extensive surgeries for many forms of cancer she kept beating the odds. All of the doctors commented that either someone is working miracles on her or her attitude or both were what made the difference. Watching her strength has helped me overcome an otherwise debilitating spinal injury as well. Enough so that I am still an Active Duty Marine. I FULLY believe that my positive mental attitude and the support of my loving family made the difference. I'm sure all the prayers had a lot to do with it as well. Hears wishing you a quick and full recovery. Semper Fidelis, Jim
