I think I've got some of my other issues ironed out - I guess I never changed my plug gap when I went back to a standard ignition, and now that I've got new plugs with the correct gap, it's running a bit better.
However, I still have a problem with idle. The car's a bit of a mutt, mechanically. It's got what I assume is a Targetmaster(?)/Goodwrench type crate 350 the previous owner put in, circa late 70's. Until I have the funds to rebuild the original 283, that's what I've got to live with.
My problem is this. With the timing advanced to the point where the car cruises well and really screams when accelerating, it idles somewhat rough. I've got it idling at ~900 rpm. If I back off the timing a little bit, it seems to be more well behaved at idle, and I can drop the revs, but then it afterfires a little and hesitates a bit while driving. What can I do to have the best of both worlds? Different vac canister, maybe, so there's not so much advance at idle (it's running full manifold vac, not ported)? Could I be running too lean (I'm at sea level, plugs looked OK when last I checked)? I've looked for vacuum leaks, never found anything (i.e. propane method).
I don't know about the guts, never had it apart, but I assume it's nothing special, probably just a vanilla, 2 bolt main 350. It's got an Edelbrock Performer 600 cfm carb with stock jets & rods, an Edelbrock Performer intake, and is stock from the exhaust manifolds back. It's got a regular points-style ignition, stock-ish single point distributor (which I assume matches the current engine), the plugs, cap, rotor, points/condensor, and coil are all brand new. The plug wires and ballast resistor are relatively new (within 1000 miles). No heat riser valve is installed.
Sorry for the long post, rather get it all in now, than go back and forth adding things later!
-Matt
However, I still have a problem with idle. The car's a bit of a mutt, mechanically. It's got what I assume is a Targetmaster(?)/Goodwrench type crate 350 the previous owner put in, circa late 70's. Until I have the funds to rebuild the original 283, that's what I've got to live with.
My problem is this. With the timing advanced to the point where the car cruises well and really screams when accelerating, it idles somewhat rough. I've got it idling at ~900 rpm. If I back off the timing a little bit, it seems to be more well behaved at idle, and I can drop the revs, but then it afterfires a little and hesitates a bit while driving. What can I do to have the best of both worlds? Different vac canister, maybe, so there's not so much advance at idle (it's running full manifold vac, not ported)? Could I be running too lean (I'm at sea level, plugs looked OK when last I checked)? I've looked for vacuum leaks, never found anything (i.e. propane method).
I don't know about the guts, never had it apart, but I assume it's nothing special, probably just a vanilla, 2 bolt main 350. It's got an Edelbrock Performer 600 cfm carb with stock jets & rods, an Edelbrock Performer intake, and is stock from the exhaust manifolds back. It's got a regular points-style ignition, stock-ish single point distributor (which I assume matches the current engine), the plugs, cap, rotor, points/condensor, and coil are all brand new. The plug wires and ballast resistor are relatively new (within 1000 miles). No heat riser valve is installed.
Sorry for the long post, rather get it all in now, than go back and forth adding things later!
-Matt
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