So I made a purchase of a 70 big block roadster. The car is as nice as I wanted and am happy. It has had a lot of work done to it but needs some things fine tuned to be just right. The po had the engine rebuilt (64k miles) and the numbers match up up to be the original 454. When I first saw the car it started right up ok, but if you did not keep your foot in the gas it would stall, even after warmed up. I tweeked up the idle for a test drive and is ran pretty good like that, the owner said that the carb needed an adjustment, or I thought maybe a vacume leak. So I picked up the car and drove it home (130 miles or so) but still with the 1200 rpm idle.
So I have been tring to get this resolved, adjusting the carb idle screws does not do anything. I disconnected and plugged the vacume line that supplies vacume to the lights and wiper door, and still no good. So I thought I would start at the basics and check points and timing. The points seem in good shape and after a bit of messing around with them and taking them out and in a couple of times I got them set at 30 dwell. It was getting late last night and I loosened the distributer just to see if I could improve the idle by tweeking it by ear a little, the more CCW I went it seemed to get better, but now Im at the limit of the tach drive. I did not have the timing light on it yet, so I don't know where it is at. So I may disconecct the tach, just to get full movement and see if I can get to idle ok.
So it sounds like I may have to pull the dis. to get the timing in range. I'm thinking the timing was way retarded and the high idle was swinging the advance to let it run, (btw the advance weights seem really loose). Ive only worked on small blocks is the BB dis the same set-up? Same type of drive from the oil pump,gear ect. My info 6+ on the timing, is this the number to shoot for or is there a better time proven set up. And with these advanve weights, what kind of curve should I see when I rev it, I thing I may have to get a curve kit to really dial this in.
Sorry for the long post but I want to get this running right before all the fun stuff, and glamor shots pictures.
THANKS

 

without the timing light, you're in the dark!
make sure the vacuum advance is attached to a manifold (not ported) connection, and that the can is operational. set total timing(vacuum not attached) at 36* advanced at 3000rpm. then idle the engine and slowly raise the rpms until there is no further increase. all the advance should be in by 3000 and it should be steady. if not, the springs on the advance weights need to be changed, the distributor may need to be shimed/rebuilt or vacuum can replaced. what's the condition of the plugs and wires? only after the ignition is ok, turn your attention to the carb. if the carb has never been maintained, it may need a rebuild. contact lars at v8fastcars@msn.com for his tutorials on carbs.