What are you pulling for manifold vacuum at idle?

Been toying with the Holley 2300 2 barrel the last few nights. Trying to keep it from being too lean, but also trying to relieve some of the pig like 7MPG numbers I have been pulling lately. After messing with the mixture and idle, I am now sitting at around 850RPM idle and 12 pounds of vacuum.

How is that comparing with the rest of my carbed 302 brethren?

What is your base timing set at? timing also has an affect manifold vacuum. You could try to bump thin timing up to say 12* and start there. Raising timing also affects AFR.

I just went out and stuck the tester on mine and its showing around 13#. I have the timing set at 8 deg. right now but, will change it to 12 one of these days. Supposed to help due to the low atmospheric pressure according to some friends that race. I'm running an Edelbrock 1406 jetted for 8,500 primaries, a little lower on the secondaries. I have the same setup on my 75 Highboy and get about 12 MPG if I drive conservatively. That's with a 390.
Hope this helps, Mark.

I'm an idiot. After I dropped the oil pump drive shaft in the pan and finished reinstalling it, I never rechecked the timing. I was running way below 10*, I don't even want to guess how far. I set it back to 12* and am not pulling a steady 14lbs at 800RPM.

Run it up till it start to ping. then back it off a few degrees. It's gonna be a trail and error thing. Bump it a degree at a time and drive it. Watch your gas mileage too. When you stop feeling the improvement and gas mileage suffers you've gone too far. But the more timing you add may mean the better gas. may have to step up to 91 if your not running it yet.

I just filled up with 85 yesterday because I was reading some crap about older blocks and heads liking lower octane. Dammit. Normally I use the good stuff.

Got it on the trial and error piece. Going to wait until the Hydro is finished before I start dialing it in again. Of course, it will probably be a wasted effort if I score a good used 4 barrel intake at the swap meet this weekend.

Still wont be a waste. you'll be doing it for eithe a 2bbl or 4bbl. You can just tune it for 85. No real need for 91 on a stock cast iron headed engine. Also may look into a good ignition upgrade. Im gonna run a D.U.I. in my 79. It will allow for you open up the gap on the plugs to .055" The bigger gap the better the spark the better combustion burning the more power the better the gas mileage. You can even tune your stock set-up. Maybe think about an upgrade to the stock dura spark. There are so many things to do and try. I spent all summer tweaking and tuning my 79 to learn all this stuff. And Im still not done yet.

I imagined I would need to do it again when I went 4bbl. Just been waiting on the right price for an intake is all. With the weather playing as much havoc as it has lately, I'm going to keep it parked for a bit until I can score some good tires. Too little tread and too much feathering for my taste on the ones I currently have.

We're going to have to sit down and talk tuning one day. You seem to have everything nailed down pretty tight.

On a quick note Zack, I'd look for another carb anyway if you plan on wheeling at all. That Holley doesn't like going up steep hills. I had one on mine about 12 years ago and had it professionally built & dialed in twice because it never ran right on the trail. It constantly loaded up on me and at best it ran about half as good as a FoMoCo carb did on the trail. On the street, it ran like no other. I averaged about 10 mpg in town and about 12-13 highway, but I wouldn't wish that carb on anyone out on the trail.

I've already picked up an Edelbrock 1406 from a club member at a very good price. I hear good things about 'em.

I've been very much toying with the idea of EFI over the last few weeks. But, I'm holding off until I get some other things taken care first.

Punisher - that is awesome you picked up the Edelbrock. I am fairly certain I have the same one. I am in the same boat - adding EFI is further down the list of adds on my Bronco. I have a lot of other items that are more important right now like a steering wheel

I ran a 1406 on the '69. Came with the truck. Worked pretty well, but I did no wheeling with it.

I also ran one on the 460 I had in the 77 F250. I was having troubles with the POS 750 Holley Double Pumper that was on the truck and needed something to get by. Worked pretty well on there too. But it was a loaner and went back to the guy I borrowed it from.

As far as EFI goes, I think I am going to step it up a notch and go with a 5.8. Might even stroke it a bit. I dunno. Hopes and dreams all hindered by time.

Like you even have to ask if we're interested.

Where did you pick up the parts you needed once you got the numbers from Edelbrock?

Also interested. I'm pretty sure the '71 is running rich (popping on part throttle at lower speeds, some hesitation at lower RPM). I need to pull a spark plug and check it. May need to rebuild the carb after it sat for a bunch of years, but want to confirm that the settings are correct first.

OK, this is going to sound really dumb, but what is the best way to clean it. I get the taking it off the manifold part, but have no idea how to go about it beyond that. Can I just hose it out really well with carb cleaner or is there some disassembly involved? I'm fine if there is, just am not sure where to start short of a total rebuild. I've never taken one apart before, but that won't stop me from trying.

Carb rebuilds really aren't super difficult so long as you keep track of what came off of where. Pick up a can of carb cleaner, the kind that looks like a paint can, at your local parts place. Once you get it torn down, throw everything in the bucket and go spend the evening hanging out with the wife. The next day you can pull everything out and wipe it down. Presto. Some of the more stubborn stuff may require a green Scotchbrite pad. And make sure and use a compressor to blow out any residue left inside.

Sounds easy enough. Would it make sense to order a rebuild kit and just take care of that at the same time (guessing I'll need it anyway based on your description).

Rebuild kit will be a must have as you'll be removing the old gaskets from the bowls when you clean everything up. Order it now. Been having trouble picking things like that up on short notice lately.

OK, cool. Sounds easy enough. I'll pick up a set of jets, rods, and the needle and seat suggested by Zilla as well.

The Checker Auto on Academy just south of Austin Bluffs carries Edelbrock carb parts in the speed shop part of the store. They useuly have the needles/seats/metering rods/step-up springs in stock. Also Gary at American Racing on Boulder west of Platte carries Edelbrock parts too. I bought the off-road needles and seats kit from Gary IIRC. The metering rods/step-up springs I know I bought at Checker. Can,t remember which one I got the needles/jets from, but one of the two.
Mark.