My Tuning Adventures

[Cudakiller70]

I too have lifters from Hughes, but not cam savers. My lifters seem to bleed down also. Noisy at first then quiet down, but still a little noisy, might be because of .080 preload  Completely understand Jason, I'm still nervous about this cam wish I had done a cam saver type lifter.

[jimynick]

If it's any consolation Jason, mine clatter for a couple of seconds at startup, too. 

[Cudajason]

If it's any consolation Jason, mine clatter for a couple of seconds at startup, too. 

Actually @jimynick that helps a lot!  Nice to know I am not the only one!  I just went out and fired it up, clattered like a bitch,  the quited right down...freaks me out, but it stops so it cant be that bad!  Last time it did not stop!!

[70 Challenger Lover]

I don't think I could ever get comfortable with that situation.

[TelisSE440]

I don't think I could ever get comfortable with that situation.

I'm experiencing the same situation, although i can see the oil pressure idiot light stays red meaning not having built up pressure inside, after a couple of seconds, the light turns off and no lifter knocking. If i let it for two three months, then it can take even up to seven seconds to build up pressure.

[Bullitt-]

Lifter clatter on startup reminds me of things I've read about oil filter anti drain back valve issues...
Ya'll might wanna look into that.   

[TelisSE440]

Lifter clatter on startup reminds me of things I've read about oil filter anti drain back valve issues...
Ya'll might wanna look into that.   

I think the same, but my Wix filter has it, maybe it's because it's a big block and has the filter horizontally, do any of the small block owners have the same problem? The filter is somehow vertical, so the oil is being stored adequately...

[blown motor]

Lifter clatter on startup reminds me of things I've read about oil filter anti drain back valve issues...
Ya'll might wanna look into that.   

I think the same, but my Wix filter has it, maybe it's because it's a big block and has the filter horizontally, do any of the small block owners have the same problem? The filter is somehow vertical, so the oil is being stored adequately...

I have a 340 with no oil filter adapter. The filter is horizontal. No ticking.

[Cudajason]

Running a wix filter...like I said, I don't like it, but the car runs great!

Went for a 100 mile cruise with the little man today. Car ran fine the whole time

Runs at 190 200 around town. It climbs to 220 on the highway.

Here are the plugs...I think they look pretty good.

[73_Cuda_4_Me]

 

Plugs look good! Glad you had a nice trip!

[70 Challenger Lover]

Those plugs do look nice. You might consider looking at your cooling system next. 220 seems a bit warm going down the highway. Usually they run cooler on the highway and warmer at slow speeds.

[blown motor]

  My car always runs cooler on the highway.

[jimynick]

You're running a thermostat, right Jas? Usually I've heard that not having one causes the coolant to go through the system so fast that it doesn't have time to properly cool a bit. Clutch fan? Clutch working properly? Shroud? Fan belts tight enough? Late timing? I've pretty much run out of ideas here. 

[Cudajason]

Well guys now that the car is back together and working well, I decided to resume my tuning adventures!

I have taken a few trips around town, nothing crazy, have not pulled the plugs or anything, but figured I would see I could improve things a bit.

I still need to reinstall my wideband O2 sensors,  so this is all seat of the pants tuning.

Once the car was back on the road, the throttle response was great...easily spins the tires at part throttle from idle.

Full throttle from idle it would spin the tires, but nothing crazy.

I am running a 750 Vac secondary Holley and started with the orange ac pump cam and 31 shooter.

I tried the red then white cams and there was no bog and performance was pretty much the same.  Basically I am going down in cams as I read you want the least amount of fuel needed with out causing a lean stumble.

Last night I tried the white cam, still spins the tires at part throttle, but on a WOT run from idle it lit the tires up right across the intersection.  It surprised me, it really took off. 

I am not sure if it was the nice evening air or what, but it sure worked!  I am going to step one more cam down to the pink and see what happens.

I will admit that the part throttle may not be as strong with the smaller cams, not a bog or anything, but just not as crisp.  I think upping the shooter a little will bring more fuel in earlier and help on the part throttle and not affect the WOT.

hope to find out this week, if the weather holds.

Jason

[Cudajason]

Had the chance to go back out for a spin yesterday....tried the pink cam, which is the smallest cam, but puts out a little more total volume then the red and white cams.

Tried both the number 1 and 2 holes.

Ran fine, did a brake stand NO problem, but did not feel like it launched as good at WOT as it did with the white cam.

If I get the chance to back out again, I will switch back to the white cam and try the number 2 hole.

After that I will probably hold off until the spring on any more tuning.