Quote:
Originally Posted by Bain
after letting it warm up I adjusted the idle till the rpms were at around 1000 in park.
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Way too high. Should be more like 750. There should be an under-hood decal with the official specs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bain
Then I checked dwell and got no readings at all but I read that on an hei system any dwell reading is meaningless anyway so I don't know if that gives any clues at all.
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Either the meter is not connected properly or it is broken. Dwell on an HEI is significant, but not adjustable. Dwell is electronically-controlled based on ignition coil saturation. Looking at dwell gives a (very) rough indication of coil condition. If the dwell doesn't vary with RPM, the module is defective. If the meter isn't connected properly, or is actually defective, your RPM reading is also suspect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bain
Next I rechecked vacuum readings and I am still getting a steady 16 hg from the intake manifold and the carb going to the vacuum advance.
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1000 rpm in Park, and only 16 inches of vacuum? First Guess: Retarded timing. Second Guess: Poor air/fuel mixture. Third guess: Worn engine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bain
However I found that on the driver side the carb port is only pulling about 7hg.
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Perhaps a ported-vacuum nipple that has some vacuum because the idle speed is too high.
1.
Does the vacuum advance work? If you disconnect the hose from the
carb at idle, is there suction at the carb port? Plug the
carb port. The idle speed should slow down as soon as the vacuum advance isn't getting vacuum. Should also reduce engine vacuum when the idle speed drops. If you connect a vacuum pump to the vacuum advance hose (or simply suck on the hose) does the vacuum advance activate? If you put your tongue over the hose to plug it, does the vacuum advance hold vacuum, or does it leak?
2.
What is the base (initial) ignition timing?