Going to Plan "B".....

[bizjetmech]

After a year plus of being sidetracked due to work, finally getting back to the giant Charlie-Foxtrot.

Engine in question = 1973 340 + .030, Auto Tranny, 9.5 compression, stock heads with 2.02 intake valves

As I can't get this POS to run right (Run right = AT ALL) with the current (hydraulic) cam, I'm going to put a near stocker in it, and try to get it sorted out

(Won't idle below 1100rpm, runs like crap/no torque when I do get it running......acts like it has a giant vacuum leak, but I can't locate it if there is one......too bad, the motor sounds like a real badzazz when idling in the shop)

Cam is going to P4452992.

I currently have an Edelbrock "Air Gap". It's problem (besides contributing to the idle issue, IMO) is that it WON'T FIT UNDER THE STOCK HOOD, with a stock air cleaner.

My main question. What STREET PERFORMANCE intake (currently in production) fits under the hood of a 73 Duster/Dart Sport? I'd prefer one with a "spread-bore" pattern (to use a stock Thermoquad) , and the "bosses" cast in to mount the coil in the stock location (these seem to be MIA on most current intakes).

The old Holley Street Dominator worked good on a similar combination I had back in the day, but I can't find a used one locally. Besides, I find it hard to believe that the "state of the art" hasn't improved in 35 years.

 

[Abodybomber]

Do you have a stock distributor curve? Do you have a stock torque converter? 238@.050,is going to act really close to what you have now,IMO."State of the art,is better.Unfortunately,that progress includes taller plenums and runners. Only thing,I can think of,is maybe a LD340 ,or something similar. Supposedly,the Stock 1971 340 manifold flows gangbusters.(T/Q flange,I.I.R.C.).

 

[RustyRatRod]

What pistons are in it? If stock, it's nowhere near 9.5. Those engines were 8.2 at BEST.

 

[moparlover]

if you could borrow a carb somewhere and swap it out just to test... you might be pleasantly surprised ;)

it sure sounds like a carb problem to me.

 

[bizjetmech]

More details, if anyone finds them pertinent.... 73 block, cast crank replaced with forged crank, stock rods, Ross pistons, assembly balanced, compression works out to 9.6-1. Stock heads had 2.02 intakes installed when three-angle valve job/guide replacement done.

Goal: Look stock, run a lot better than stock. Trying to approximate an early 340, as near as I can get running pump gas. This is a driver, not a race car. The plan is to have 0% "quirks".....I want to be able to toss the keys to some random 18 year old, and be able to say "Have at it....." without giving a 10 minute "briefing".

Lunati cam, can't remember the exact specs, (cam card at the shop), but lift is somewhere around .490, advertised duration is in the low 290 degree range. Turbo Action 11" street converter.

I have the original 340/TQuad intake, but it's a giant cast iron pig, as far as I'm concerned. As noted, back in the 70s, I put a Street Dominator on my nearly stock 340/4speed Duster, and the difference was night and day. Especially throttle response.

Have had two different carbs on it (the Edelbrock 650 AFB-clone), and a New Holley 650, and three different distributors, with three different advance curves. No difference except the new Holley ran even shittier (if it's even possible). Holley seemed WAY RICH.....engine loaded up and flooded after about 5 minutes.....not even enough time to get the idle and idle mixture set.

This whole project is wearing me down. I should have let the junkyard 360 in it. It ran fine with that, other than being slow as molasses.

 

[Abodybomber]

Understand the frustration, guy. I would check out ,the Crower 31916,the Comp Xe 268,or the Summit K6901. You need 210-225 @ 050 ,on intake. 112-114 lobe centers. You won't keep ,tires on the car for long. A straight performer,would rock with the last 2 milder cams. A mail in,and teaching hookup needed....