318 running like a dead goat

TurboGrimace said
I'd definitely be happy with a smaller cam. This one is clearly eating up some potential power, but for now I just want to get it running like it used to.

I checked the vacuum can and it's not leaking. I don't notice any movement in the distrib though. And i dont think the vac advance is kicking in. At 3k I only have 30* of total advance with 10* BTDC at idle. I should be getting more and that extra bit should be from the vac. If the vac advance can is good what might be the problem for the vac advance?

So what your telling us is you have a total of 20 * of mechanical advance (not including vacuum advance)....

10* at idle is not alot when you have a long duration cam . Try advancing the timing to 16* or 17* at idle . That would then give you 36 or 37 total degrees at 3000 rpms.

This will give greatly improved idle quality and more power from 3000 rpm's and up !

As far as the vacuum advance is concerned , you need vacuum for them to work Big cams don't make much vacuum ?

What is your vacuum reading at idle ?