Help me get my crate motor going!

Hi,

I recently put in a crate motor by enginefactory.com

Specs:
"turn key" style engine: 350 Chevy with Edelbrock carb, air-gap intake, Performer RPM heads, performer RPM cam, and HEI ignition. The old motor was a stock type for 1971.

Problem:
The engine will *usually* start right away, but sometimes it'll crank all day. I have to give it starting fluid, and I'd say A LOT of starting fluid to keep it going, then it's fine. It'll start anytime.

I've had to raise the idle to almost 800rpm in Neutral, and the idle is pretty rough. The car had enough power to travel 15 miles home from the installation, but it hesitates on acceleration and will misfire. It will do this even in neutral as you increase the rpm.

I've verified the initial timing at 10 BTDC in Drive and with the vacuum advance disconnected. I've verified the mechanical fuel pump is pumping (it's new with the engine). I've pulled cylinder wires one at a time AND i COULDN'T DETECT AN RPM CHANGE WITH ANY ONE CYLINDER????

I thought that it was because I hooked up my old points-style coil wire (the + lead) to my HEI, since the points ignition provides 12V at start up and then a reduced voltage at run. I haven't changed that wire YET, but I measured 12V there with the ignition in RUN.

I'd appreciate any help I could get. Let me know if I need to more specific about anything, or ANY theories. I'm getting close to just having it towed to a mechanic, but I'd MUCH, MUCH, MUCH rather fix it in my driveway as a point of pride.

Thanks,

joic

i would say the distributor is probably not in corectly. i would say thats the first thing you should do is make sure its in properly.

Probably distributor as 68 Chevell said. You could also have a HUGE vacuum leak as well.

Good luck

Lar

Thanks for the tips--I installed a vacuum gauge and that may be the problem--vacuum at idle is almost nill, gently pressing the accellerator nudges it up a bit, then it quickly falls off.

I'll verify I've got the guage hooked up to a good port, and check all my lines again.

The engine comes with a video of it running (they say it's MY engine, and I believe them). I didn't remove the distributor, and it's hitting the timing mark right on. If vacuum doesn't change anything, I'll start sniffing there though.

Thanks again! I do appreciate it!

ok well, if they already had the engine running and stuff and you didnt take anything apart theni dont see really why it woldnt work. built engines arnt always the easiest to start. now i do have a few questions. i just went on there sight and was looking around and some stuff. what engine did you get from them, spacificaly? like how much power is it making and if you know what are the specs on the cam. the more wild the engine the harder it will be to start. if it is a wild cam then you probably wont have much vacume so checking that wont tell you much unless they told you how much it was saposed to have. and as far as the idle, 800 in nutral isnt bad. i think thats what mine is set at. also with a more wild cam the idle usualy needs to be turned up some. i can turn mine down to 600RPM's and the damn thing is lopy as hell but it doesnt respond as well when i first hit the gas.

check ur fuel too,,, there could be your problem,,, check simple