nvrenuf
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2010
- Posts
- 2,084
- Reaction score
- 2,794
- Location
- Mobile, Al.
- First Name
- John
- Truck Year
- 1991
- Truck Model
- K5
- Engine Size
- 454
There’s no reason a choppy cam’d engine wouldn’t idle around 800 or so.
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- Joined
- Mar 10, 2025
- Posts
- 26
- Reaction score
- 32
- Location
- NE Oregon
- First Name
- Doug
- Truck Year
- 1975
- Truck Model
- K10 4x4
- Engine Size
- 350
I just built a 414 cu in (.60 over factory 402) BB Chevy in my 72 Monte Carlo. I have a Lunati Voodoo cam, lifters, valve springs, 1.7 roller rockers, 2.19 and 1.88 Ferrea oversized Stainless valves, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, a 750 Street Demon Holley carb, and Hooker Competition Ceramic big primary long tube headers, and dual 2-1/2" full Pypes performance exhaust system.
First and foremost, directly after breaking in the cam and lifters, I had to ensure I had no vacuum leaks, and my carb floats were set right in the middle of the sight windows. My firing order was correct 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. In order for my big block to idle on its own without dying I had to disconnect the vacuum advance and plug off the vacuum manifold port on the carb. Then I set my mechanical advance to 34* BTDC at 3k rpm and I locked the distributor hold down clamp tight so it couldn't move or be bumped. Then I set my idle speed to 800 rpm which makes the base idle timing at 10-12* BTDC. Now it will idle on its own after warmed up and it still has a noticeable lope at idle.
First and foremost, directly after breaking in the cam and lifters, I had to ensure I had no vacuum leaks, and my carb floats were set right in the middle of the sight windows. My firing order was correct 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. In order for my big block to idle on its own without dying I had to disconnect the vacuum advance and plug off the vacuum manifold port on the carb. Then I set my mechanical advance to 34* BTDC at 3k rpm and I locked the distributor hold down clamp tight so it couldn't move or be bumped. Then I set my idle speed to 800 rpm which makes the base idle timing at 10-12* BTDC. Now it will idle on its own after warmed up and it still has a noticeable lope at idle.
