help with new 383 stroker issue

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

I have seen a 454 with a distributor put in wrong then adjusted by moving the cap around until it ran. Did the same thing except it came out the exhaust blowing both mufflers off it.

Scared the @#$! out of the technician.

Small block distributors can shift off one tooth when installing them and still mate up the oil pump shaft. Throwing the timing out.

I think you have a timing/ignition problem also.

there may be alot of different discussions on the "one tooth off" idea, but i will say this, i have tried my full MSD ignition system, installing the dist. several times and then out of frustration i got a new one wire HEI and tried it with same results.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

5 and 7 swapped? Easy to do has got me once or twice

yep, looked over this one several times. thanks for the idea

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

What's your idle rpm?

idle RPM from 1200 down to 800.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by randy500

Did you check with vacuume gauge yet? Quicker and easier test than leakdown and more informative at this point.
If smooth gauge reading then find the vacuum leak which is causing the lean condition.

I have a brand new vacuum gauge that i set up and was hoping to see something that would give me some direction, but it was only moving about 1/2 in if any but smooth really, low maybe 13in of vacuum is all. I seen nothing that would say what is crazy or wrong.

[88Stanger]

you guys are awesome, i really appreciate your time and ideas. I have a couple things to look at, but all in all, i see the engine coming out again soon.

[88Stanger]

to be honest, getting a new cam with more duration is ok with me and getting a 2400 stall instead of my stock stall. i would then take the existing roller cam i have now and install it into a good fresh 355 i have for sale or use in another possible toy. just a note. Removed and installed motor in the truck enough times to almost do it in my sleep.

[geezer#99]

So to sum it up, you've got a cold intake that creates a lean condition and no initial timing.
With your idle that high you're well into the mechanical timing so your initial is likely closer to 4-6 degrees.
It backfires or coughs because it's lean and retarded.
You can't easily change the intake but can bump your timing up to 20 initial to start with.
Then you can slow the idle down to 750 and more accurately set your initial.
And when you set your valves don't do the twist of the pushrods, just wiggle the slack out of them then go a 1/4 turn more.

[88Stanger]

I am honestly thinking that the issue may be as some of you have said, a valve is sticking or not working correctly. Even though the heads are brand new Edelbrock aluminum RPM heads, they could be bad. After sleeping on it, I think I'll pull them off, tear them all down and inspect them,rebuild and off needed I can use my buddies iron race heads to see what happens. If same issue with them or I find a problem with new heads, answer found. If not and it does the same with iron heads and no issues with aluminium heads, then I'm to believe it's a cam issue at this point I think. Maybe time to look at different brand cam at that point, just a thought.

[geezer#99]

Your valves aren't sticking, your heads are fine, swapping heads won't change anything except the size of your wallet!
Just do the free things first!
Put a bunch of timing in it, get your idle down where it belongs and then drive it.

What do you have for a timing light?

[Marine-58]

I totally agree with Geezer, do the free things first.

From what Aussie said earlier,

"I have also seen cams boxed wrong and you end up with a 4/7 swapped firing order cam"

It is worth a try to just swap those 2 plug wires. Someone else had mentioned getting 5 and 7 reversed. Depending on how the plug wires are ran, it is easy to make a mistake tracing them from the plug to the cap.

[mattfranklin]

What Geezer said. Adding more timing is free and fast, at least as a check. Takes three minutes.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Your valves aren't sticking, your heads are fine, swapping heads won't change anything except the size of your wallet!
Just do the free things first!
Put a bunch of timing in it, get your idle down where it belongs and then drive it.

What do you have for a timing light?

i have an adjustable timing light, new.

Ok, ill do a whole lot of timing in it. Then ill try to swap the 5 and 7 wires. my issue is that when it is running it will not run enough to drive it, or at least it did not earlier. who knows, after adding timing, who knows.

the head swap will only cost me head and intake gaskets as i already have a set to try.

[geezer#99]

Remember to plug off the vac advance line.
And your increased timing will speed up your idle.
Get the idle back down under 800 and put your vac gauge on and adjust your mix screws.
Be conservative, start with an extra six degrees and then go from there.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Remember to plug off the vac advance line.
And your increased timing will speed up your idle.
Get the idle back down under 800 and put your vac gauge on and adjust your mix screws.
Be conservative, start with an extra six degrees and then go from there.

Ok. I do know to remove the vacuum from the distributor.
I'll give your thoughts a try

[AussieinNC]

Wondering how you are progressing with the 383 issue....

Havent seen an update today...

Hope you are doing ok...

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by AussieinNC

Wondering how you are progressing with the 383 issue....

Havent seen an update today...

Hope you are doing ok...

Thanks for asking.
Tried timing, still no go.
Try more this weekend. Really frustrating so far. I k pw God willing I'll figure it out, especially with your guys and gals help.

[KQQL IT]

Afr meter time.
My 400 wanted a bunch of accelerator pump cam.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Afr meter time.
My 400 wanted a bunch of accelerator pump cam.

Ok, that's next

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by 88Stanger

Thanks for asking.
Tried timing, still no go.
Try more this weekend. Really frustrating so far. I k pw God willing I'll figure it out, especially with your guys and gals help.

So how many more degrees initial did you try?

[AussieinNC]

Hey Stanger,,,

How are you going with the 383 issue?

You are not doing the old disappearing trick on us now are you?

[Camaroguy]

I am not up to speed on FiTech but I have a competitors set-up on my c10. Took me a long time with a lot of help to get it to run correctly. To me, it sounds like a fuel pressure problem. Does the FiTech have a built in regulator? What kind of pump are you running? Have you explored this aspect? I'd contact FiTech and see what they say.

[bw46]

88 Stanger,
You sure have done a thorough job of troubleshooting. This is a tough one! I've had a similar problem in the past with cam timing being the problem, but you've already checked that.
Considering all you've ruled out, I lean toward something mechanical. I've had good luck with leak-down tests to help point me in the right direction. They're free and informative (the tool can be rented/borrowed/bought for cheap, and well worth having if you don't already). I see in a prior pose you plan to do the leak down but I don't see a follow up on that.
Let us know how it goes, I sure am curious. This thread reads like a good who-done-it novel.

[AussieinNC]

Any update on this one?

Did you resolve the issue?