Just got Charger and I need help!

[por72911]

Long story...72 Charger, bought from friend. 360 Auto, Roller Rockers and cam, Demon Carb, Electric Fuel Pump, Headers. Starts and idles great drives like crap! Before I bought the car I was told (I believe them) that it runs great and he had a problem with the ignition wire burning up so he took it to a mechanic. So the mec. replaced the ignition wire, the ign. switch, the electronic ign, the resistor, and to top it off turned the distribitor 180 deg. (vac adv facing pass. front). Now another problem is I have fuel in oil plus it does not run well. My first thought was the carb is way to big but like I said my friend says it ran great before the "mechanic" worked on it. I have the timing set to TDC at 800 RPMS. Any Ideas? Thanks Paul

[Dick]

I wonder if your wires are out of position by one on the cap and it is firing late. That would account for the unburned fuel in the crankcase, the lack of power and the easy start (not firing against compression).

[por72911]

Thanks for the quick Reply! Just checked the wires and they appera to be correct.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by por72911

I have the timing set to TDC at 800 RPMS. Any Ideas? Thanks Paul

OOPS, I missed that. Check what your timing is supposed to be set at.

[Dick]

Try 10* BTDC as a starting point.

[dwc43]

Use a dial back timing light and set total timing to 36*. No wonder it does not run right if you have it set to tdc. And don't use the vac. advance. With total timing set you will run into toehr problems with too much timing using the vac. advance.

[TK]

Dick is 100% right, but if things don't seem quite right.......................
Don't rely on the harmonic balancer marks. Set it by ear, or with a vacuum guage.
Rev it up to 3000, then time it to get max RPM, use this as a starting point, and listen for a ping, back off until you don't get more ping.

And use the vacuum advance, it is gives you better MPG, and cooler combustion temps, when you are light on the throttle.
Also can give you more throttle response.