Okay guys....looking for your suggestions on our current engine...the setup now is:

402 BB Engine

400 Turbo Transmission (auto)

410 Posi-traction 12 Bold Rear end

Replaced valves -- added 218/228 @ .50 lift cam

Edlebrock Intake Performer 2-0

Cam: Lunati Hydraulic

Carb: Holley 4175
This is a project for kids and their goal is to make it a street rod with some decent torque and hp to show off. If you can make any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

Currently, the motor as we have it from when we bought it, it does not have the get up and go they would like. Once it gets moving, you can punch it an it will go, but off the line it hesitates....cuts out....and the kicks in.

Thanks,
Steve & the Kids

 

Check timing and fuel pressure and make sure its for your specs, NOT the factory engine timing and fuel pressure specs. I assume valves are lashed correctley and the cam was installed correctly? I would make sure all that is correct then go with some ported heads to go with the cam and intake and maybe port the intake while you are at at. A stall is a must though for sure, Camed cars with gears don't like factory torque converters.
Let us know after you check that.

 

first things first, a hesitation from a dead stop is usually some sort of fuel supply problem, make sure the accelerator pump is being engaged immediately, and that the diaphram is not ruptured, if all checks out, you should look to larger accel pump squirters or different accelerator pump cams.

The only other thing i can think of being a problem in this area is that you may have the throttle blades opened too far and you've uncovered the transfer slots. if you take the carb off and drain it and look at the underside the transfer slots should look like a square rather than a rectangle if the blade position is set correctly.

After that like he said before check the timing, i usually run anywhere from 16-20* initial on big blocks and anywhere from 36-42* total advance depending on the chamber setup and other factors. check this with the vacuum advance unplugged.

Also not knowing the head castings the performer 2-0 intake is designed for "peanut port." oval port cylinder heads. which have a greatly reduced cross section compared to say a 781 or an 049 casting. If you dont have 206 or other peanut port castings, i would probably swap to a perf rpm or air gap oval port intake if you have the air space under the hood. if you dont have the room ****** the intake off of it and open the runners up at the flange till they're closer to the size of the runners in the head... usually you dont have to go very far inside the inatke till it goes back to normal size anyways.

not knowing what pistons you have installed, or the head castings and compression ratio, i will refrain from suggesting a head swap, although a telling test would be to pull a plug and do a compression test. i also do not like spread bore carbs and i assume thats why it has the perf 2-0 intake since it has mounting for spread and square bores. honestly i would probably ditch the carb thats on it now for a good old holley 750 i'm sure you have some buddies who would lend you one for testing purposes .

if all checks out and that dont get it, let me know i have a whole bag of tricks.

 

Okay.....I have decided to worry about the engine after the kids rip all of the mouldings...gaskets and vinyl roof off in preparation for paint. We have all winter to work on the motor in a nice heated garage. Add to that we need to upgrade the suspension....brakes.....new everything.

WOW.....what fun it is for the kids.

Steve