poor 1/4 mile times

[rebel61]

what's wrong with this setup. I have a 1969 Camaro 3200 lbs. 350 with a mild cam. 650 Holley double pumper msd setup. 350 turbo with a 2500 stall,rev valve body and shift kit. 12 bolt spool with 456 gears. My 1/4 mile time are only 14.70's 5000 rpms at 92 mph. would 410 gears be better for this setup? Also what cam should I use. Thanks for any help.

[Swiley383]

What are the cam specs,tire size, and heads?

[rebel61]

268 cam and 883 heads

[rebel61]

29.5 x 15.5 tires

[curtisreed]

Those low compression heads are not very good and you don't say what kind of compression you have, BUT at 92mph and 3200lbs you show to only be making 200hp. Even with those heads you should be making more than that. With a 29.5 tire I would stay with the 4.56s. If you are only going through at 5000 you aren't going to like the 4.10s. Did you put a comp recommended spring on the heads? Is this a drag only car? Are you spinning on take off? Gas set up? What kink of timing, locked or not? What MSD ignition box? Many possibilities as to what could be wrong. We will just have to wade through until it shows up.

Curtis

[rebel61]

I got the motor used so I'm not sure of the compression. Its a 1969 350 300 hp. Its a street car that I take to the strip on occasion. I do spin the tires on take off. MSD 6 advanced the timing 10 deg.

[Swiley383]

I would probably work on the tire spin first if you increase power the tire spin will only get worst. How consitant are your 60ft times? A slid a link setup or cal trac would help the tire spin but there could also be other factors like tire pressure.

[curtisreed]

Sorry I read your heads as the 993 smog heads instead of what you have. I guess you are saying you have 10deg initial timing. Do you know what your total timing is? It is possible that the cam isn't degreed right and that could totally kill any power you would expect. Have you done a leak down and a commpression check? That could also give you some insight.

[rebel61]

I pulled the valve covers and found a bad cam lobe.

[Swiley383]

The timming pointer could also be off.

[curtisreed]

I pulled the valve covers and found a bad cam lobe.

Really hate to hear that. I'm glad you found something, just wish it had been something simple.

Curtis

[Swiley383]

I missed the post about finding a bad cam lobe.

[jtortorete]

Rebel61
a lot of times a guy such as yourself does not post enough information on what you want out of your car and the combination you have put together. Also what you are willing to do to get where you want to be. You are drag racing one of the most popular cars people like to race, and like to go fast in, but your combination is not one for doing that.

It now sounds like the used motor you bought is not that you thought it was and has a bad cam plus what else. So i think you are at a point where you need to step back and see that you really want to do with your car, what you want it to run, and get some honest help with a combination to get you to where you can afford to go.

Just trying to save you the grief i went through in the beginning. It becomes no fun to waste good money after bad and never really enjoy your car. Just saying.

Jt

[rebel61]

installed new cam and lifters. Took the car for a ride and around 3000 rpm it starts missing and backfiring.. I double checked the valve adjustment and test ran again the same problem??

[curtisreed]

installed new cam and lifters. Took the car for a ride and around 3000 rpm it starts missing and backfiring.. I double checked the valve adjustment and test ran again the same problem??

Did you go back with the same cam? Did you check the obvious, plug wire order, look at the plugs to see if it's lean?

[curtisreed]

What did you find out on this?

[fla1976]

Did you do a complete cam with lifters and springs? Did you do a compression check to check the rings, valves and head gaskets?