My lump

[graham1]

Guys,

Started my Chevy 350 (medium tuned) all seems great bar the following.

1 Bit of a bugger to start and when I give it a little dab on throttle it seems as though it floods and it doesnot like it

2 Once running all seems fine but when things get warm/hot (as I would expect them to on a new lump) The cooling fans come on but temp guage races away towards hot and I have to shut down as a precaution. Radiator is unknown but old receipt says Freight rover, I can count 3 cores????

3 This could be related but home designed exhaust manifolds are restrictive, 4 x 1.5" tubes into one collector 2.5 " then back out into 4 quad collector custom chrome (not by the book) and the first collector and beyond start to glow red, this cant be right.

Oil cooler present and thermostat out.

Any thoughts

Graham

[russell_ram]

Sounds like the ignition timing is not right- 'bugger to start' and 'collectors glowing red hot'.

I would guess a mile retarded from the glowing headers. Check the ignition then try again. Of course it's going to be a bit warm with wisps of smoke from burning oily finger prints - but not that hot.

I expect one of the bowtie owners out there will correct me if I'm wrong - but I don't think so.

Russ

[graham1]

mmmm cheers for that, I'll check this, Could I be 180 derees out, I felt sure I replaced the dizzy as per the book on piston 1 on its firing stroke (both valves shut) and the engine sounds ok though.

[dave]

Hi Graham.
At 180 out it would not run at all.
This may sound silly but you may be running the engine too lean, this coupled with the timing being too far retarded things could hot up quite a bit.

When you are cranking the engine does it spin over for ages before it kicks in? Or does it feel like it is trying to seize? If it feels like it is trying to seize then that could indicate that the timing is too far advanced, if this is the case turn the dizzy clockwise a few degrees and try again, and turn the other way if it spins over for ages before it starts, You might be suprised at the amount that you have to turn it to see any effect.

[graham1]

Dave Yeah, think I know where you are coming from, I have rechecked the dizzy insertion and happy that that is by the book. The engine spins over freely before finally firing so I think then dizzy needs advancing as you say (counter clocwise) Noticed that plug check was that they looked like new so maybe mixture is a little lean or about right? I will try ignition adjustment first to see if things are a little cooler. then slight fuel, carb is 600 cfm Holley with standard jetting so with Big heads and medium cam, etc I guess I may well need to deliver more fuel, I also noted engine wouldn't idle very well (have been running at 2200 rpm ish to break in) and a blip on the throttle and it nearly died.

See how I'll get on tomorrow and thanks for advice

Graham

[STOMPER]

Grame
Ditto dave Check your float levels on the holley and you idle screws about
2 turns out as a base setting.
I had my headers glowing red because of to lean on intial start up.
Regards
Paul.

[graham1]

I have advanced ign. a bit more as well as backed out the idle mixture srews 1 & 3/4 turns (was only half a turn out) And seems a lot better now an will idle. How do I use the timing light? I know how its connected but what is the best procedure.

Graham