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Randystys

Randystys

Member
Hey I'm Randy, I've been so busy digging through the posts and cross posts on tuning a tunnel ram I never noticed that there was a current forum going on, Ithought this was all archived information...
My project is a frame up hot rod '66 El Camino... 383 aluminum heads, weiand tunnel 2x Holley 450, big mother thumper cam, Muncie 4 speed, 4.11 posi traction, 4 link, tubbed, lowered 4" .
I got it up and running, now in the process of dialing it in, smoothing it out best I can for the street/strip.
I don't expect a mom's car grocery getter temperment with the cam I have in there, but want better than the full blown all or nothing race mode I have now. Looking for tips and tricks and tuning.
I have lots of pictures but I guess I have to figure out how to shrink them down to 500k to load here.
 
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always great to have additional members join in.
posting several clear pictures would help
as would having details on the carbs,part numbers, jetting, front and rear, vacuum connections
plenum vacuum readings and throttle linkage and pictures of you plugs,
and some indication of idle rpm, and transmision, shift points,your shifting at,
BTW that big mother thumper cam, you used, is not ideal,:oops::rolleyes:
its designed to run like crap at idle, caused by lots of port reversion,
to produce a rumble and little else.
and whats your engine compression etc.
I may be able to suggest a much better matched cam
while Id need to know a good deal more about your combo
something closer to this cam makes more sense in a tunnel-ram 383 used for street/strip use with a 4 speed and 4.11 rear gear
https://www.crower.com/camshafts/chevrolet-hydraulic-flat-tappet-cam-lifter-lubricant-kit.html
 
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Welcome. And I agree with Grumpy about your cam choice. That cam is designed to give a nasty rumpity-rump sound for cruise -ins to "impress" people that don't know the first thing about engines. Much better choices are available if you are concerned with actual performance.
 
Damn... probably explains why I'm struggling to smooth it out and get good transition...
But I thought it fit in the ranges grumpy listed in his thread:
106-109 LSA I have 107
245-300 duration i have 295
Lift is what, .500 /.490?
I have 10.5:1 flat top small chamber (I believe 64) aluminum head compression.
If that cam is the total dog, wrong ass, ain't gonna happen, ilI' pull it out and try your suggestion.
If itsi more like it'll work but there's better cams out there... Id like to work with what I have for this summer and change it out next fall...
 
6.5 power valve
68 jets (might be 72)
31 squirters
50cc pumps
4160s
Mechanical secondary matched opening.
Right at the moment 850-900 rpm idle
11.4-12.6:1 f/a idle
6-8 psi idle
I have not drilled flaps yet
20* initial timing
 
Id adjust the fuel pressure regulator to provide 5psi -5.5 psi at the carb inlet port
as a first step, and adjust the jets to get closer to about 13.5-14:1 fa ratio at idle
 
I should mention I'm 61 yo and I built this over the last two years as retro hotrod of what I would have built back in my high school days had I the money and the wearwithal.
I don't plan on any "serious" strip work built mostly for show(s) and cruising the bullavard so lumpy idle fits in the picture as long as I can get driveability out of it...
What I'm saying is I'm not looking for top performance on the strip. Although I might take a run down the 1320 just for grins...
I'm doing this on my phone right now, I'll have to get on a PC so i can upload pictures...
 
I have fuel pressure at 6 psi I can turn that down a bit and I do have some smaller jets i pulled out i can put back in. Thanks
 
posted pictures would be helpful and yeah you can marginally improve,
but that cam choice is as stated less than ideal.
 
Here's a couple pictures of my El Camino... Just loaded Paint .net so bear with me on sizing...

I have 67 jets in there now, I ordered 60s and 63s ... Should have them Tuesday, I'll try them out and post results

Probably Just start a whole new thread in the intake and carb section copy some of this info over there and add more Pics.
 
thank you for posting the pictures as it helps visualize the project and get a better feel for what your dealing with
 
Looks like you got the Paint.net figured out, nice photos !

Yes it would make more sense now to start a new thread in the other section.
 
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