I've got a 1972 f100 with a 302 the guy I bought it from said it had New exhaust manifolds and a cam and it also has a performance 289 manifold on it but for all the heist about the engine it just doesn't seem to have that wheel spinning HP I'd like what can I do to increase it. I also noticed it boggs down any suggestions on what could cause that?

 

Remember that lil Windsor is trying to push a 4000-pound truck.

Check your rear gears.. likely a 2.79, 3.00, or 3.25 which aren't exactly stoplight-launching ratios.

Headers and exhaust is where I suggest ya start. However, it still won't be a fire-breathing monster off the line... you need torque down low in the RPM range... not HP.

 

Thanks what's a good exhaust? I have it dualed out with two thrush mufflers I think it runs a 3in pipe the whole way out not a hi quality system do you know why it would bog down? Is it just because its such a heavy truck?

 

When does it dog down? when your mashing your foot down or the throttle or when your just casually driving? If its when your doing hot starts and drag racing your local ricers its probably your carburetor. Id say power valve or dirty jets.

 

It bogs down when I mash it could it not be tuned right? And power valve or dirty jets? Sorry don't know what you mean

 

Welcome to FTE by the way.

Ok ummmm. First do you know what kindof carb you have?

If i remember the 302 cam with a autolite 2100. 2 barrel carb.
Here is a clean 2100


This will explain what a jet is.
What Is a Carburetor Jet? | eHow.com

A power valve has one function, and that is to to enrich the fuel/air mixture at or near wide open throttle to aid in engine cooling. It's a vacuum operated diaphragm and it will rupture when a backfire occurs just because a back fire creates more pressure than it can withstand. When a power valve blows, fuel is allowed to pass through the power enrichment circuit at all times which produces a noticeable, overly rich running condition. A lot of people test them by putting them up to their mouths and giving the diaphragm the suction test, but I don't recommend this. They're so cheap, if I have my doubts, I just replace it.

What you can do to try and clean your jets without taking apart the carb is put a cloth or something restricting over the carb intake while its running. What this does is make the carb try to suck more air in and it can suck larger dust/dirt particles trough the jets.

Im guessing its the power valve though.

 

You did not say the type of carb your running for one thing tell us more Holley's are mostly acc pump arm adjustment, Pump shooter to small, A bad power valve engine will keep running with Air/fuel idle jets screwed all the way in. This closes the idle circuit no gas goes in to carb and should engine should stall out. Also carb maybe to big. So what carb do you have. Also check spark plug color for rich or lean color condition. Its takes a while to find all the little problems when you buy a vehicle that someone has tinkered with and didn't get it right so they sell it..You should get a manual so you can figure out and how to fix your vehicle just makes it easier for you to learn the nuts & bolts on these..my 2cents ..orich

 

I agree with HIO Silver. I had the same Red truck when it was only 2 years old and still looked new. I couldn't believe that it had so little power with the 302 in it. It was the gears in the rear. Most trucks need 373:1 to have any spunk with that kind of weight. I think mine had 325:1 The guy I bought it from said that he thought it needed a valve job or it was carboned up. I did all the tune up stuff and tricks and no luck. I cleaned the carbon out with old fashioned techniques, no luck. It was a 3 speed stick which made it worse. So I took off the heads and had them ground etc. But all looked fairly good. It may have had 5% more power when I did everything, but not that much improvement. It is just not a torque engine. And everything was too new for it to be worn out. My friend had the same truck with a big block. His ran like I expected mine to run. But mine got great gas milage compared to the big blocks as long as I drove decent. It was also very comfortable with that twin I beam as I couldn't hardly tell when I rode over the lane divider dots. Except for the power, I liked the truck.

 

+1 on Silver, bogging is usually carb related as stated. With gas at $4.00 a gallon you might want to get it running smoothly & go for the mpgs.




John

 

I have a edelbrock 4 barrel carb. On it