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Topic: New engine questions

in Forum: C3 Engines


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New engine questions (1/11)
 9/22/09 8:57pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Hopefully in about 2 weeks I will be ready to put the new small block into my 74. I have run into a few things that i would like your thoughts on.
1. I plan on using my original Quadrajet on an Edelbrock 2101 intake. I was told to use a felpro 1204 intake gasket set. This gasket comes with a solid metal plate blocking the heat for the coil choke. The engine rebuild kit has a gasket with metal inserts that have a 1/2 inch hole for heat to go through. I plan on running hedman headers so there wont be any heat riser to force exhaust up into the intake for the coil anyway. What should I use and am I going to have to change the choke to electric or maybe even go to another carb with an electric choke.

2. on start up of a new engine and new cam I need to run the engine at 2500 rpms for 22-26 minutes. What if the motor gets hot during this break in? Would you just fill with water until the break in is done then go to coolant or use coolant from the start. I plan on filling the engine from the water outlet then fill up from the radiator to get as much in as possible. Any suggestions on these issues? Valves were adjusted during installation so I shouldnt have to deal with that right away, but I am sure i will need to go back and readjust at some point.

3. I plan on running a stock points distributor, i am aware that changing the dwell effects my timing, what do you recommend the dwell to be set at? 28-30?

I am sure i will have more questions as I go, but i want to thank you guys in advance for you thoughts.  I value the information that I pickup on this site!

Rodney





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New engine questions (2/11)
 9/22/09 10:17pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

Vette(s):
72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784

if want to block of the heat riser passage use the ones that came and fit with the intake set you are going to use,  I used to stuff tin foil into the passage along with useing  the plates to help to keep the exh heat from buring through the tin plates over time, I think recommended dwell is 28-32, I set my at 30, I would recomend you fill the cooling sys as you would do normally, MAKE SURE you run a can of GM Engine Oil Supplament with your break in oil at initial start up to help protect the cam and lifters at initial run up,  if your are worried about overheating maybe cause you might be in a garage, leave the hood OFF, and put the biggest house hold fan you have on Hi and  placed in front of the grill for air flow anips2009-09-25 08:06:26
New engine questions (3/11)
 9/23/09 1:18am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3231

if you arent trying to be original then dump those points

go HEI
 
if youre just sold on staying old school...  then at least make sure you replace those old worn out springs.
cthulhu2009-09-22 22:19:03

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New engine questions (4/11)
 9/23/09 3:16pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.


Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484

Hey Rod,
I agree with cthulhu on going HEI if your heart's not set on staying old school.
MSD makes a great, simple all in one unit which should stand up to the job very well.
Keep us posted.
Kevin
New engine questions (5/11)
 9/23/09 11:11pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Tell me, does the HEI ignition truley add HP or just create an easier start of the engine. What r the real advantages of the HEI?

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New engine questions (6/11)
 9/24/09 7:52am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Not necessarily more HP per-se, but it will provide more available ignition voltage to the plugs in all rpm ranges, compared to a point type system. This equates to more complete/efficient firing of the plugs from idle all they way up to max rpm. More usable ignition energy, no "point float" at higher rpms, no adjustments, longer plug life...all good things...

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New engine questions (7/11)
 9/25/09 12:07am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

I will start the new engine with the current distributor since it is a know good operating system, once the break in has been completed I will change over to an HEI system. Now that adds more questions, what do I go with meaning brand and type, can the current distributor be used so I can use the same size cap and the chrome covers for the plugs wires? Also the factory distributor is a cable drive for tach.  Are the new wiring diagrams for a change over easy to understand and do with out chopping up the existing harness?


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New engine questions (8/11)
 9/25/09 12:43am
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

Vette(s):
72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784

I bought a tack drive HEI hand built for over $% hundred, and if you are on a budget like most of us are nowadays that price tag kinda sucks, but if your stock tack drive distributor is in good shape think about Protronic's, Ive heard good things about their bolt in kits that will go into your stocker and you can add a hotter coil, as far as elec hook up you just run a switched 12 volts from the fuse box, just tape and tuck the resister wire away for later, just in case, either way you won't have to hack up your wiring and what really makes distributors expensive is the mechanical tack drive, check em out.  anips2009-09-24 21:58:38
New engine questions (9/11)
 9/25/09 10:18am
fp_vetter72Lifetime Member
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COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA

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1972 corvette stingray convertible 2007 coupe


Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417

I use my stock distibutor with the points replaced with the Petronics II ignition, so far it has been great with no problems. This way you keep the original with updated ignition. Very easy to convert over.

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New engine questions (10/11)
 9/25/09 2:42pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.


Joined: 8/27/2007
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Mine is a '79 so I never had to do the conversion.
From experience I can say that the MSD brand works so much better than the Mallory HEI.
The ignition module burned out on the Mallory a few times and I had to have it towed once.
The MSD seems to operate much smoother and stands up very well to that C3 heat.
Other brands of HEI are available but I've found what works for me.
Let us know what you do.
Kevin
New engine questions (11/11)
 9/26/09 12:58am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3231

[QUOTE=KDADDY79]Mine is a '79 so I never had to do the conversion.
From experience I can say that the MSD brand works so much better than the Mallory HEI.
The ignition module burned out on the Mallory a few times and I had to have it towed once.
The MSD seems to operate much smoother and stands up very well to that C3 heat.
Other brands of HEI are available but I've found what works for me.
Let us know what you do.
Kevin
[/QUOTE]
i concur...  i had problems with the mallory ignition module burning out...  ditto on towing, msd was flawless.

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