understood. but pinging hasnt popped up until i got greedy trying to get close to 34-36 total. if i back initial down to 6-8, it goes away but my total suffers (around 26-27). haven't changed vacuum advance at all yet. i would like to limit it as talked about before. if there any way to know that youre close to a reasonable range of vacuum + initial by checking initial timing in park with vacuum advance hooked up? or even in drive at idle with someone else holding foot on the brake so im able to check my initial timing? im sure i can limit vacuum, but how much is too much?
this is my first 4 banger ive tuned. spent a lot of time over the years with holleys on small block v8s. yes carbs with smaller primaries like edelbrocks, rochesters, carters, etc might get better gas mileage but ive never been able to match performance. i persoanlly hate the edelbrocks, just good for cruising around. im pretty good with the rochester 2 barrels just because i have to be for some of the circle track classes ive run. as far as holleys, most people just instantly go for a holley that's too big. the best combo ive used on a chevy 350 is a 450 cfm holley mech secondary 4 barrel carb with no secondary accelerator pump (non double pumper). it required swapping to a 1850 model 650 metering block to get the right fuel curve. that carb was dead reliable and could hit full throttle from any rpm, dead stop to 3/4 throttle cruise with no hesitation or flat spot at all. cruised and drag raced with it. got very good mileage for a 350 v8. i like tuning and having all the small parts interchangeabl e. only thing that kills them is throttle shaft bushing wear. once they are worn they will never perform right. there are a lot of ill performing holleys driving around but when they are right they work.
that being said, i know there is nothing wrong with the factory carbs. i wanted to clean the car up, get rid of the 1980 vacuum mess, and use something im familiar with. we now have a header, no catalytic converters (took out two) and no smog pump. wasnt sure what small parts id have to buy to rejet if necessary or tune the stock weber. some of these old carbs like rochesters can be a pain to get the small parts for and for me to be satisfied with the weber i would have had to eliminate all fast idle, choke, or any other annoying automatic mouse traps on it. i warm my cars up with my foot in the colder months. can't stand something that chooses rpm for me or locks out my throttle blades. no offense to anyone on carb preference but i was just intrigued on here with the success people have had with the 350 holley. so far i am pretty happy with it. the stock weber is still sitting around but i doubt i'll try and go back. i supposed if i get a spare moment i'll do some investigation and figure out where the issue with it is.
im more interested in getting a better flowing intake now. and i may also switch to an 8" rear that a friend has out of a mustang II to go from 3.08 in the little 7.5 to a 3.40.
i type too long of posts haha, thanks for all the help, all opinions and ideas are much appreciated, this is one of the most helpful forums ive been on so far. i will report back once i make some progress on this thing.
