68 400 with 200-4R trans, 670 Holley Street Avenger, performer intake, no AC. , power disc brakes.
I have been able to successfully start my freshly built engine and its sounds sweet. Now I have to tune it and set the shift points in my 200-4R. Thus far I have set the timing at 11-12 deg with a timing light and the dist vac plugged. I reconnected the dist vac and now two things going on: 1) During idle it wants to stall until it reaches operating temp, about 190 deg. After it is at temp it idles at about 900 RPM. 2) After it is warm I put it into gear (reverse or drive) and the RPM’s immediately go down to about 450 and it wants to stall.
The problem is, I can not drive it until I record the pressure of the transmission in each gear and review it with the trans manufacturer, to ensure I don’t burn it up. But I can’t do that because it won’t stay running. So I can’t drive it to properly tune it.
What do you think? Someone suggested vacuum leak. I have re torqued all of the carb and intake bolts and have replaced the PCV grommet. I am not using the thermo valve at all. I get all my vacuum from the carb. There is no vacuum at the trans, it is entirely mechanically controlled with the TV cable. Someone told me to squirt starter fluid around the intake and carb and if/when it gets sucked in you will know by the increase RPM and you can pin point the leak. That doesn’t sound very safe! Any other suggestions on locating a potential leak?
I also have a fairly severe oil leak. It looks like it is coming form the dreaded rear main seal. I haven’t pulled of the flywheel guard to verify.
