tuning carb and timing engine

[Z06killinsbf]

Explain hard start please. Does it turn over and over and over before it fires or does it seem like it's hard to kick over (too much initial timing)?

[Tannerm]

Explain hard start please. Does it turn over and over and over before it fires or does it seem like it's hard to kick over (too much initial timing)?

Hm. Very possible if u explain like that. But yes. I'll pump the gas once and hold the peddle down halfway and it'll turn over several times. Might catch for a second but won't start. Has to continue like that for a long while. I might bump it back to 4-6 initial in that case. I know it has a small cam (unknown how small) so I assumed it would need a bit more. When I got her it had ridiculous initial. Past the timing marks. Guest is it was about 26?! Currently 10... hell, I figured the bowls were emptying if it sat for a day or so. Lol idk!

[dee]

One pump all the way to the floor then off is how the manual choke usually works.

[Z06killinsbf]

Doesn't sound timing related if it turns over easy. You're either too rich or lean.

[46Tbird]

I wouldn't necessarily trust the timing marks. Verify TDC using a piston stop, then check that against the marks on the balancer.

12hg at idle is very low for a stock 283. I would expect 18 at a minimum, and as high as 25 or so for a fresh engine with a small cam. You should really do a compression test to see if you have a mechanical problem.

[Z06killinsbf]

Worn engines eat more timing as well

[Tannerm]

When I bought her, she ran like a champ. Drove her home for 60miles. She only chugged while stopped in gear at a llight.otherwise she ran great. I'm half tempted to bump it back up to where she was originally. This time it'll be guess since there was not timing marks to go off of. It was about 2 inches from the end of the tab. Then dicking with it from there... idk. I'm hard pressed to think she's low in compression or wore out. She runs super strong when running!

[Z06killinsbf]

Chugging sounds like carb was running rich. They're notorious for gumming up and running shitty. Is set the timing back and pick up a rebuild kit for the carb. Or put a holley on it.

[Tannerm]

Ooooh ok. Bumped timing to about 16* and it runs fantastic... weird. But car still dips down to 550-600 (better) from the idle of 1050. And it is still a slight pain to start if it has sit for a while. Makes me wonder if the carb is vapor locking...

I remember on that 83 f100 I had, I put an edelbrock 600cfm on her and it would vapor lock... I had to buy a phenolic spacer to remedy it.

[kobuzz]

Who ever built it could have the timing chain gear advanced or retarded when they installed the aftermarket cam or the distributor could be not set exactly at TDC.

[lilvega]

Those stock balancers can spin out of place pretty easily when the rubber is worn.
I would suspect the timing marks are waaaayyy off and you probably have a gummy carb as well.

[Tannerm]

Didn't think about the whole advancing the dang chain... but very possible. And yes, the carb is probably super gummed.

[Tannerm]

Carb us definitely gunked up. Took it around the block and revving it made it stumble a little bit. Got home a few minutes later and it revved freely.

Side note. Previous owner switched the distributer advance and auto tranny vacuum lines... that was addressed. Still a Shitty dump in rpm in between park and gear. Otherwise it drives great down the road.

Lastly, if it is indeed a stall converter issue; let's say my 700r4 has a stock torque converter... and its too tight for my cam causing the Shitty drop in rpm in between park/gear. What rating of torque converter should I install? 2000? 2200? 2400+?

I also smell a new carb in my future... One with an electric choke.

[Tannerm]

Would explain when setting initial to about 14* and then plugging in advance, it would jump waaaay up.