1977 350

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Dec 6, 2011 | 05:04 AM

Pelayo114

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 221

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From: Sylmar CA

1977 350

I was wondering if there were any ways to get my engine more power so that my car won't 'pull' as much as it does on take off. Also from a cold start it seems to be idling very rough, and sometimes to the point where it just idles too low (under 500rpm) and just turns off. Any ideas on why this happens and what I can do to get more power(hopefully not to expensive ideas)? I'm basically new to all this but I'm a quick learner, any help is greatly appreciated.

Dec 6, 2011 | 07:15 AM

Tim H

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 3,593

Likes: 103

From: Southern Indiana

The cold idle screw for the choke needs to be adjusted to a faster idle, and search on this site on how to hook up your distributor vacuum the right way.

Dec 6, 2011 | 05:00 PM

scottyp99

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 5,948

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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!

Pour about a quart of paint thinner in the gas tank. I'm just kidding, don't do that, it's kind of an inside joke for Tim H.

Best bang for the buck is to give it a good tune up. I don't mean just replace the air filter and change the oil. I mean a TUNE UP. Re-curve the distributor, then super tune the carb. You are going to have to do some research, it's not difficult to do, IF you know what you are doing. That's the tough part, getting to the point where you know what you are doing. It's kinda like playing a musical instrument. Playing the guitar isn't really particularly difficult, but you can't just post something that says "Hi, I just bought a guitar, can someone tell me how to play it?" it's a little more complicated than that. Here are some links to get you started:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...long-post.html

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/holley/tune01.html

http://www.bob2000.com/carb.htm

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/myqjet.htm

http://vetteprojects.com/kstyer/quadrajet.htm

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/Adj...tic_Chokes.htm

Here is my biggest piece of advice: DON'T BE AFRAID TO POST DUMB QUESTIONS!!!!!

Good luck!!!

Scott

Dec 6, 2011 | 05:12 PM

Tim H

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 3,593

Likes: 103

From: Southern Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyp99

Pour about a quart of paint thinner in the gas tank. I'm just kidding, don't do that, it's kind of an inside joke for Tim H.

I was going to say that but i didn't think we were that far into the tune up yet!!!!!!

Dec 6, 2011 | 06:42 PM

Pelayo114

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 221

Likes: 1

From: Sylmar CA

scottyp99 thank you for all that information, much appreciated. I have to save up a bit of money to get the timing light, dwell meter, and a vacuum gauge. In the meantime I will try asking family to see if anyone has one that I can borrow to do the tune-up. Thanks a lot this should help me out a lot

might also be why my engine keeps overheating at constant speeds of 80mph+

Dec 6, 2011 | 07:03 PM

Tim H

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Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 3,593

Likes: 103

From: Southern Indiana

1 thing you can do if you can just borrow a regular timing light is move your timing mark to the top of the timing tab.
Thats about 12 degrees and the car will run alot better.

Dec 6, 2011 | 07:10 PM

scottyp99

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 5,948

Likes: 72

From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelayo114

might also be why my engine keeps overheating at constant speeds of 80mph+

It's not all that uncommon for 'vette's to have overheating problems at speed on the highway, do a search, you'll find many threads on this forum on that subject. Then start asking questions. And x-mas is coming, maybe you could start hinting around about how much you would like Santa to bring you a new timing light.

Scott

Dec 7, 2011 | 10:09 AM

gcusmano74

Drifting

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 1,886

Likes: 9

Go through the basics first. (plugs, timing, etc.)
But the choke pulloff needs to be set right to specs. The little vacuum motor on the right front of the carb needs to open the choke just so far when you first start the car. There are several adjustments you need to make to get it to do so. Find them in a good service manual.
Good luck to you.