My v8 conversion thread, With pics, progress, questions ect!! Options

[dan10101]

9one4racer

Welcome. Don't worry about the 'stuff', your not the first. It happens here and everywhere. We welcome your opinions.


I'm curious about your setup. Do I see 2 radiators? Did you try one before and it didn't work? Which engine are you running?

I'm the Dad in the project. The one that's suppose to be experienced. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[dan10101]

Aside from cooling, we're running into the power drag problem...

Here's what we know so far..

The problem: Under moderate to heavy throttle in 2-4 gear the car feels like there is a trailer loaded with a ton of bricks holding the car back.

Under light throttle, the car responds well.

The engine stops very quickly once the idle is turned down or timing is changed. In other words it's tight. Granted it's all new components.

Tried both carbs. Problem is similar with both. A/F is close enough to not cause this problem. 12-13 under full throttle.

Tried some different timing settings, no change.

Possible problems. (brainstorming here so nothing gets ruled out)

1) Binding in the drive axles.
2) Missmatch in the connection from SBC to Transaxle
3) Internal engine problems.
4) Secondaries not opening. (ruled out with changing carbs)
5) Plugged Cat and/or muffler
6) flapper valve on the one exhaust manifold closing somehow forcing all exhaust thru the intake and out the other exhaust.
7) Transaxle failure(dragging) under high torque
8) brakes draggin. (rolls fine so not likely)
9) squating under throttle causing something to drag (like the axle)
10) Distributor to far advanced or retarded
11) Completly mismatched engine components killing all HP.


There must be a couple more I'm missing
Be blunt. We'd just like to solve this so he can start driving the car.

We get to play with it again on Friday. So we'll have some time to think about next steps.


Dan

[SirAndy]

You may want to add a line above the 'BROWSE' button in the File Attachment area to let all us newbies know about the 10 post rule so we don't have to ask you veteran posters any more "stupid" questions.

all this hot canadian air for nothing ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

you don't need 10 posts to attach a picture. you can do so in your first post.
there never was a limit on when you can attach pictures ...

as for your engineering *advice*, yes, you're welcome to throw ideas at us, we all do all the time.
but unless you have something better to show in your hands, don't piss on someone elses product that has proven to work very well.

i just ordered a set of muellers roller Bear-Rings and i have no problem forking out the $400 for a set.
why? because i know what my alternative would be and i have driven a few cars with them installed and i can tell the difference ...
have you?

some people,
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Andy

[tesserra]

Not accelerating under full throttle and high load is ususally fuel pressure. Check for clogged fuel filter.
Is your vacum advance hooked up to the right port on the carb? If it is hooked up to manifold vacum, not venturi vacum, you could have some goofy timing issues.

Just a couple of thoughts,
George

[dan10101]

Not accelerating under full throttle and high load is ususally fuel pressure. Check for clogged fuel filter.
Is your vacum advance hooked up to the right port on the carb? If it is hooked up to manifold vacum, not venturi vacum, you could have some goofy timing issues.

Just a couple of thoughts,
George

Good Ideas.

I'll double check the vaccum connection and it's result on the timing.

Would low fuel pressure show up on an wideband A/F gauge?
We're getting decent mixture. Seems like it would lean out if it was starving for fuel.

[dan10101]

Well maybe I'll chime in here....The engine sounded fine to me, its suppost to be tight...I think I mentioned that during my brief visit??
The fact that its hard starting tells me that the timing needs to be set correctly, if that doesn't fix the problem, its the carb.....( I don't remember what carb your running??

ALSO, try NOT refilling the radiator it may be just pushing out the excess fluid...it is possible to overfill the radiator!!!!

It was fun to come bye and visit I'm really bummed I missed Andy..and by 15 minutes no less,
Andy, It's to bad I live so far away, I would have that engine purring for you in short time.
Feel free to PM me if you want to

Levi,
I remember what you said. I'm just not ruling anything out after our rod bearing fiasco. I just haven't owned an engine this tight in well, forever..

It starts ok. Just pump the gas a couple times then when it bites, keep it running until it warms up.

The timing is definantly off. I can't get a read on the normal timing mark (can't see it against the firewall), and I'll need some instruction on how to do it properly with the Renegade damper pulley. My careful calculations and markings got us in the ballpark, but not close enough to rule out that as the problem.

We have both a holley and a Qjet. Both seem to act about the same.

[Andyrew]

Ok, let me point out that we have not given it 100% throttle yet... maybe 75%... but that SHOULD activate the secondary's...

Its got good low end low throttle tq. and it sounds good at that... now give it more throttle.. and it makes a very loud working noise...I really want to break in the rings.... but I dont want to do further damage if im causing damage....

[neo914-6]

Try this: connect a vacuum gauge, idle at 900 rpm, and turn the distributor slowly until the vacuum peaks then back it off 1-2 pounds.

[Andyrew]

Will do!

dankie

[Andyrew]

might be hard to get it to idle at 900.... Maybe with the Q jet..

lol (the cam makes this hard....)

[Andyrew]

oook.. So dad messes with the dizzy while I kept the throttle running, then we set the idle.. We'll see how that does on the vacume guage.

Went for a drive and well... sucked.
Ya, its got good power... but about 100 hp of it... (or so it feels)

Well while dad was giving it full throttle, we must have hit a bump or something.. A couple loud noises came... Not continual.. just a couple. Im guessing dad put the clutch in... So we drove it back home (all of about 100 yards) and looked at it.. We looked around, checked underneith.. I tried to point out the low clearance between the alternator belt and the shift linkage (bout 1/4 to 1/8 in...) when dad noticed something...

The trani mounts...

[dan10101]

But I didnt even show you the mount!!

I'd love to talk! Cant say it here? Need more room? More idea's? Go ahead and shoot me a pm (either account..)

Heres the mount... I THINK I have it in backwards (I debated on that for a LONG time installing it... guess I just did it wrong.... Eh I'll figure that one out.

Andrew

[dan10101]

hehe, ya, I cut the tip of the exhaust off... It was hitting... and it was quiet... now my quarter pannel gets warm.. lol

[skline]

Dude, that aint right. It should fit perfect, that looks like its going to fall out. You need to fix that right away. Trust me, you dont want to take any chances with that one. Did you see this???

[Andyrew]

Oh, I know its not right... notice that I posted pics on it and such? lol

Ya, Im going to fix it before I drive it again.. the trani is being supported by a small jack right now just in case.

Andrew

[Andyrew]

Would it be the reason for my engine problems possibly??

[PatW]

We have both a holley and a Qjet. Both seem to act about the same.

You may want to take a close look at your carb gasket. It might be interfearing with the butterflys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Also look into using a thick gasket if you not already using one. They tend to insulate the heat from cooking your carb. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Sounds like timing too.

Pat

[skline]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Go to bed, I will take pictures of mine tomorrow and post them. Also, it is a very possible that it could hold you back, the trans could be binding and causing it to twist and bind which would hold it back, you are lucky you have not broken anything.

[John2kx]

Attached are a couple of pics of how the trans. mount is supposed to look. This is a combination of the 911 sport mount, a notched washer from the stock 914 mount and Rengade's spacer.

Getting the timing right can be challanging with the v8 installed. You may have the distributor installed off a tooth or two but you should still have more power than described. With my timing set correctly, I could still rotate the distributor 3/8" in either direction without loosing the amount of power you describe (3/8" measured by marking base of dist. and having a fixed mark where it slides into intake).

I'd somehow verify the secondaries are opening with a device that indicates movement while your on the road. I don't have this device exactly figured out but had visions of a pen attached to secondary that would mark a fixed piece of paper?????? Maybe Dad could be talked into looking at the secondaries with the targa removed while your driving : )

Good luck,

John

[John2kx]

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