I am unsure where to go from here on this problem, so I thought I would ask.

I dropped a 383 stroker in march and just in the last two weeks its started giving me hell.

It is a flat tappet .500l/500d cam, eagle rods and crank, speed pro piston setup with a 750 edelbrock carb, mallory street/strip HEI distributor, RPM performer intake, lightened flywheel, 4 speed car.

Anyways, my issue is that it wants to die at idle. I can crank up the idle and it will run fine for a while, but after I take it for a spin, it starts acting up again. The idle will just keep dropping slowly no matter how high I set it.
I have also noticed that it is absolutely lacking in power. It feels like it has no ***** at all now.

Ive checked timing, checked for vaccum leaks, checked voltage at distributor (which was a tad low, so I ran a new wire to a different spot in the box), and I cant think of what to try next.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Im thinking of calling the builder and having him check valve height on it next to see if maybe something settled wrong?

 

Forgot to add - Fuel pressure stays between 5-7psi range.. usually around 6psi at idle and the under hood temps just seem to be really high - my temp gauge isnt showing the motor as any hotter than normal (usually 185-200 or so), and it is not over heating, but it sure does seem warmer in the engine bay.

 

HOws the alternator and battery?

I had a 72' Triumph Tiger that acted the same way. Replaced everything. still sucked. Guy came by to look at it and put a deposit on it. Came by the next day with money and a bag.

"What's in the bag...?"

"A new battery."

He put it in and 1st kick it started - sounded awesome - and he rode off. Left the shi**y battery on the driveway.

Or you have a weird vacum issue.

 

You know, I thought about the battery. It seems to hold voltage, but I have jumped that battery countless times - Car had a drain on it for the longest time, and it takes quite a bit to get it started at first.

I may try that.

 

Does anyone else have any suggestions to try? Im going to swap the battery today. I managed to find my receipt in my big box full of saved crap. lol

 

Have you checked the compression?

 

Recheck your plug wires / firing order?

 

I'll double check that tonight. I dont think that I have changed anything around recently - It was running great for a long time and I have those decorative wire looms, so it makes it very hard to get it wrong.

If the battery doesnt fix it I may do a compression check.

 

Different coils, different voltage, requires different plug gaps and heat ranges. Allot of guys overlook this when replacing carbs coils and plugs or re jetting cards. Big difference in power range with plug gaps to close or to far apart with the wrong coil, plug gap and heat range need to match coil output and carb jetting for max performance.

 

swap out fuel filter

 

Huh, I'll be damned. The battery fixed it.
Thanks!

That was the easiest (and cheapest thanks to warranty) frustrating problem/fix Ive had on this thing in years. lol