390 Lacking Power

[papabug71]

My god man! Is everyone ok?? Thank god for alert neighbors!!

Fire place?? Heater?? Electrical?? What happened??

The main thing is everyone is ok, the truck can wait.

Sorry to hear of your trouble. Hope it all works out for you.

[DuckRyder]

Wow,

I'm very glad to hear that everyone is O.K., houses can be rebuilt and things replaced.

I hope that you can get back to normal reasonably quickly.

[fomocoguy]

Oh man, that sucks! I don't even think that can be put into words! Sorry about your trouble, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Glad to hear you were alerted in time, that's for sure. I guess we know which of your nieghbors will be invited to christmas from here on out! Glad you are all ok.

[Dragon]

Wow Sorry to hear that, I am glad you are safe. Being an Electrical Contractor I see too many fires and most are a lot worse.

[DGrant09]

Today was the first day we had about nothing to do.. The house is in the contractors hands and we'll be in a larger apt at the end of the month.. It's nice to have a roof again!!
With nothing on the schedule we were able to move the truck out to the base. We'll be able to tinker in the craft shop on weekends!!
While doing this I thought of a question I posted last year on another site and I never really received an answer. This may be part of my problem. The distributor I bought when we did the 76 duraspark conversion is pictured below. This is a Dual Vacuum vs. the single vacuum I needed?? Am I correct on this?? Since I installed this distributor the upper port on the vacuum advance has been capped. Does this need to be replaced with a single port vacuum advance?
Thanks!
Dan

[Dragon]

You can replace it. But don't cap it off it will stop the advance side from moving.

[DGrant09]

Since this was capped, it was affecting the ignition - could this be the issue with the rich burn and low power?
Could I just remove the cap?

[Dragon]

Yes just remove it.

[DGrant09]

Thanks for all of the help with this - We finally got the truck into the craft shop and replaced the distributor with a single vacuum dizzy, switched to a manifold vacuum supply, gave her new plugs, wires, adjusted the floats, mixture and idle speed. It has not ran this well since I have owned her!!

The true test will be with the trailer.. Hopefully we can pick that up next week and give it a shot.

I do have one question?? From a stop, I still cannot break the tires loose, but then at 75 mph the truck is still accelerating at a very good pace (I stopped at 80 mph) .. I imagine this is just a function of the stock gearing (high end gears for highway driving), yes??

[Dragon]

If I break my tires loose without dropping the hammer I change my tires. You could have work gearing 4.10 and be pulling 100 with 33 inch tall tires. To be honest with all the driveshafts I have dropped I don't pop the clutch on the daily driver anymore.

[court1100f]

Thanks for all of the help with this - We finally got the truck into the craft shop and replaced the distributor with a single vacuum dizzy, switched to a manifold vacuum supply, gave her new plugs, wires, adjusted the floats, mixture and idle speed. It has not ran this well since I have owned her!!

The true test will be with the trailer.. Hopefully we can pick that up next week and give it a shot.

I do have one question?? From a stop, I still cannot break the tires loose, but then at 75 mph the truck is still accelerating at a very good pace (I stopped at 80 mph) .. I imagine this is just a function of the stock gearing (high end gears for highway driving), yes??

Damn man I just read all the way through your thread. Sorry to hear about the Fire I can't even imagine what that was like being woken up to that. then rushing to get everybody and all the critters out in time. what sortsa critters ya got???? And back on topic if it runs alot better and everything did the cam ever get degreed in???? if not there still may be alot more power hiding in that motor!!!! like has been said previously with the 5 degree retard advancing it to 10-12 degrees BTDC might release the beast so to speak curiousity would have me doing just that!!!!. but I understand with the fire and all that it caused you have higher priorities at this point it's just something to check out once things have settled down again. and hell if it doesn't run any better or worse of indifferent or Whatever you could always put it back the way it is now. I suspect however it would run alot better

[DGrant09]

Damn man I just read all the way through your thread. Sorry to hear about the Fire I can't even imagine what that was like being woken up to that. then rushing to get everybody and all the critters out in time. what sortsa critters ya got???? And back on topic if it runs alot better and everything did the cam ever get degreed in???? if not there still may be alot more power hiding in that motor!!!! like has been said previously with the 5 degree retard advancing it to 10-12 degrees BTDC might release the beast so to speak curiousity would have me doing just that!!!!. but I understand with the fire and all that it caused you have higher priorities at this point it's just something to check out once things have settled down again. and hell if it doesn't run any better or worse of indifferent or Whatever you could always put it back the way it is now. I suspect however it would run alot better [/quote]

Thanks!! We're just happy to be here!! The contractors have already replaced the roof structure and we should be back in the home in a couple of months!!
As for the timing.. We set it up again at 6 degrees BTDC.. If I am following you right, I should try 10-12 degrees BTDC.. I never got to measuring the cam as was discussed earlier. I am going to have to go back and read up on that and how to..

[court1100f]

I bet ya'll sure are looking forward to going back home finally. and Yeah I think getting it dialed in to 10-12 BTDC would wake it right on up and give you more of the advantage your cam has to offer that your likely just seeing the tip of the Ice berg on. . and like I said even though extremely unlikely if for some reason the truck don't like it you can always go back. but I'd definitely get the keyed cam kit in there so you can set it easier. but for aslong as I can remember the general consensus has been these motors like 10-12 Degrees BTDC when it's adjusted some how I think smoking your tires will be effortless :D

[DGrant09]

I bet ya'll sure are looking forward to going back home finally. and Yeah I think getting it dialed in to 10-12 BTDC would wake it right on up and give you more of the advantage your cam has to offer that your likely just seeing the tip of the Ice berg on. . and like I said even though extremely unlikely if for some reason the truck don't like it you can always go back. but I'd definitely get the keyed cam kit in there so you can set it easier. but for aslong as I can remember the general consensus has been these motors like 10-12 Degrees BTDC when it's adjusted some how I think smoking your tires will be effortless :D

I like what your saying!! It's not that I really want to be smoking the tires, but, knowing her power is an awesome feeling!
I maybe able to get ot the shop tomorrow.. On the next trip in, we'll try the timing adjustment and let ya know how it turns out..

[court1100f]

Remember to change the cam timing from 5 degrees retarded to 0 I believe you want it at and the ignition timing to 10-12 BTDC and go out and see how much better it runs