heads and cam..install questions

[65notch]

ok...so i got everything installed. she started up and i think i have a problem..possibly ign. timing?

first off. it didnt want to idle to well, then i brought it up to about 2500rpm(to break in the cam) and let her run there, i was running open headers also. i had flames comming out of the headers, it was awesome looking but scarry, so i advanced the dist a lil and the flames went away, but still seemed to have a pretty good misfire, which may be because the carb is till set for the old setup.

the headers(at collectors) where glowing red the entire time..is this right? do they glow like that when im driving down the road?

 

[iskwezm]

did you check the firing order???what year is the cam for??? I ahev seen mine glow on occasion, but your timing could have made it run hot + the RPMS.

 

[Max Power]

BTW, the RPM cam won't idle very well, even when dialed in.

Headers should definitely NOT glow under normal circumstances.

 

[LMan]

Some cams are ground with a few degrees of retard already, and should NOT be installed retarded at all. If your cam had some retard in it already this should have been in the instructions, along with direction to install straight up.

Verify FO and timing. Its possible to run a 302 w 351 FO and vice versa but it will snort and pop and generally run like *****.

Your headers should not be glowing. Unless you work at Hanford or TMI

 

[65notch]

did you check the firing order???what year is the cam for??? I ahev seen mine glow on occasion, but your timing could have made it run hot + the RPMS.

i checked the firing order, its setup correctly to the firing order that the cam is for.

 

[iskwezm]

i checked the firing order, its setup correctly to the firing order that the cam is for.

well like it was said, the cam will be rough, but not to the point where its THAT bad like a miss. It was totally streetable in my 289,better then my Comp 270

 

[65notch]

i figured out the miss..it was a sparkplug wire problem...,
but now for the timing.... i checked my dist and firing order. everything seems fine. #1 TDC compression and i turned the harmonic balancer to 5 degrees btdc(edelbrock suggested) and my rotor points right on #1 plug wire.
i have a timing light that will do with inital and full advance....but my question is...how do i get them both to be withen edelbrocks specs...it runs the best wen full is at 32-34, but when i set inital its way way off. what am i doing wrong?

 

[iskwezm]

i dont understand that timing stuff and had mine done, but dont you recurve the distributor???

 

[65notch]

i dont understand that timing stuff and had mine done, but dont you recurve the distributor???

recurve?

 

[65notch]

i think i got the timming down. to where its ready correct at both initial and full.

but i have myself a valvetrain tick which seems to be comming from #1 or #2. i pulled the valve cover and ran the motor, its hard to hear at idel but when i give it some throttle it gets loud enought to hear. i tightened the rocker arms a little and no difference. any suggestions on what to try now?

Edit: i also made sure the plugs where in all the way, wires on good, header bolts tight, and they arnt making contact with anything

 

[68keyblr]

i think i got the timming down. to where its ready correct at both initial and full.

but i have myself a valvetrain tick which seems to be comming from #1 or #2. i pulled the valve cover and ran the motor, its hard to hear at idel but when i give it some throttle it gets loud enought to hear. i tightened the rocker arms a little and no difference. any suggestions on what to try now?

Edit: i also made sure the plugs where in all the way, wires on good, header bolts tight, and they arnt making contact with anything

Sounds like an exhaust leak. Make sure your header gaskets are good.

 

[65notch]

i dont think the tick is from an exhaust leak because i created one and it has a different tone. i unplugged the spark wires one at a time and they all caused the engine to studder a little so each cyl is firing.

is it possible to have a calapsed lifter, even thou they are new?

i also noticded that the cyl that the tick seems to come from, the sparkplug had carbon build up on it were as the other cyl.s didnt.

 

[iskwezm]

i dont think the tick is from an exhaust leak because i created one and it has a different tone. i unplugged the spark wires one at a time and they all caused the engine to studder a little so each cyl is firing.

is it possible to have a calapsed lifter, even thou they are new?

i also noticded that the cyl that the tick seems to come from, the sparkplug had carbon build up on it were as the other cyl.s didnt.

put a timing light on that wire and make sure its firing. Have you driven the car yet???

 

[65notch]

put a timing light on that wire and make sure its firing. Have you driven the car yet???

its firing...its the #1 cyl, i did the timing off that wire. and yea i have driven the car, probably about 100 miles

 

[iskwezm]

its firing...its the #1 cyl, i did the timing off that wire. and yea i have driven the car, probably about 100 miles

just for the hell of it, i would do a compression check on that cylinder. But a carbon fouled plug means a rich fuel mix, sticking choke, retarded timing, or low compression. If only one plug is carbon fouled, check for cracked or corroded wires on the affected plugs.