1979 ford
1998 ford 302 5.0 bored 20 over
edelbrock RPM power package (heads, intake, performer carb, cam)

my problem is the truck seems to have NO POWER at all but its still in the break in stage. i have some vacuum problems im working out but my main concern is carburation. i have edelbrock performer 600.

the timing is set at 14 BTDC with vac. advance (it was timed with vac. adv. unplugged, and yes i plugged the advanced into the ported side)

please help me out, i need this quick.

need any additional info, let me know. im leaving wednesday (tomorrow) for the Power Tour. so in other words.... HELP

 

Could be a number of things. Here are my thoughts;
* check fuel pressure, (5 to 5 1/2 psi is usually good for edelbrocks)
* check for clogged fuel line/ fuel filter
* do the secondaries open when you blip the throttle?
* is the throttle linkage binding, not opening completely?
* check to see if vac advance holds vacuum and if plate moves
* check to see if advance weights move freely
* check plugs to check for lean / rich condition
* Edelbrock makes a few variations of the 600, one for economy, one for dual quads etc. Do you have the right part number for the rpm package?
* is choke staying open when warm and not partially closing, blocking air flow?
* did you degree the cam when installing it?
* What pistons did you use? If you used low compression pistons and have larger combustion chambers in the new heads, the compression ratio may be lower.
* are the valves adjusted properly?
* correct length pushrods?

 

good
good
secondaries are fine
throttle is fine
so is the vac. advance
i think im running a little to the lean side plug wise
im sure i have the right carb, just an performer 600 vac. secondary
choke works fine
the cam was set when installed
stock pistons were used
valves adjusted
and pushrods are right for my rockers

do you think a PCV blockage could do all this?

 

best setting for timing for performance on the 302's is 12 degrees advanced





Jim

 

wiped exhaust lobe on #5 cylinder...(insert curse word here)

 

should have looked for a roller cam block no break-in issues because rollers dont need to be broken in

 

Ya,that will definetly hurt power and cause vac. problems. Did you break in the cam before taking it out for a spin?

 

ya i broke it in for 25-30 min before

as far as roller goes, thats what i had in it before (stock 1998 is roller) but i wanted the flat to match the whole power package. ....shoulda went with the Thumpr 300...

 

you could have gotten some afr 165's, lunati 61010 cam, and the performer intake and carb, and had no break-in issues and more power... an even better choice especially going into a truck would have been a 351w... 302s just dont have the torque to do actual work.

 

Roller cam always trumps a flat tappet in a roller block. To me that's a no brainer.

 

well there is no changing time back so ima go on the Power Tour and let the engine shop handle it. i told them i wanted a roller setup put back in it with the Thumpr.

ya darrin i could have bought a 351 for all of this but i already had the 302 in the truck and the intake and carb were there also. i just rebuilt my 302 for the sake of time (its my only driver) and lack of funds. there is alot of things i could have done differently, but its all getting handled. plus i just liked the 302