440 tuning issues

[doublekrossd]

First off, I understand heat and humidity will effect what I'm doing... Ok so, I have a seemingly never ending project trying to tune my motor. Some (ok a lot) of the parts may not be perfectly matched but it's what I got.

basics- I have a 440 bored .30 with flat tops, stock stroke
Indy Little EZ's @ max wedge ports matched to Indy single plane intake
comp 23-227-4 has .525 lift, 1.5 Harland sharps
Carb is a custom built (not for this car) C&M 1080cfm holley made from a 4150 body
All MSD ignition box, coil, wires, distributor. running about 15* @ idle and 34-35* all in by 3000 rpms.
No vacuum ports on the motor, just one plugged port on the carb spacer

Problem #1 is the kickdown, which I'm getting closer on but coincides with problem #2.

Problem #2 under hard acceleration in 2nd or 3rd gear around 2500rpms up to about 4000rpms, the engine will pop out of the exhaust and sounds horrible. when I get on it from a stop it runs up pretty good and only rarely pops. It's almost like it needs a little more timing (or maybe too much?) but I'm not sure how far I can safely push it without detonation. I cant hear the motor spark knock due to the exhaust dumping out at the front of the rear wheels. Plugs are all fairly new, wires are all new and checked for resistance. I guess I'm not sure what to check next as I don't get too many chances to go "run" the car due to bored local cops, loud exhaust, and shitty Michigan roads.

Problem #3 it builds a good amount of crankcase pressure. I have 2 breathers, one on each valve cover and they both blow a little oil vapor, nothing bad, but if I get on the motor hard a couple times and come back home, I notice the dipstick is pushed a little out of its hole. Weird huh?

any of you experts got an idea? Big thanks in advance!

 

[Bigal75]

The only time I had popping out of the exhaust was when I was too rich. You may need to play around with some jetting to lean it out. Do you have a WbO2? How do the plugs look. Is the underneath of the car covered in soot?

A little smoke out of the breathers is normal but you shouldn't be building a lot of pressure. Perhaps time for a leak down test?

 

[doublekrossd]

I do not have a wb02. Plugs are ok, little blacker than I like I think, so I'm changing them out tomorrow. Checked compression today and I have an even 157-168 psi. I was pretty pleased. Looks like I want a leak down next, may have ran a bit rich for too long a screwed up a ring or two by 'washing' the cylinders down with too much fuel?

 

[Bigal75]

How does the oil smell? Is this a fresh engine? What jets are in the carb?

 

[doublekrossd]

The oil needs a change again, tends to smell a little gassy. No, not a fresh engine. New heads ad intake last spring, at that time cylinders looked like they were fresh from the build, no ridges, scoring, or anything of the sort so I just built on top of it. Don't remember what jets off the top of my head, I'll check in the morning.

 

[doublekrossd]

Jets are 72 and 80 with a 5.5PV up front

 

[Bigal75]

OK do you know how to tune this? Perhaps the power valve is leaking making part throttle very rich.

 

[doublekrossd]

I swapped out the carb the other night to a freshly rebuilt and tested holley 800DP. It did help, but I've got a somewhat erratic timing issue at idle. Waiting on new plugs now (just to be safe), i changed the advance springs to just a bit stiffer. It should still be all in at about 3000 rpms, gonna check what bushing is in the dizzy next

 

[doublekrossd]

Also gonna check and see how much play is in the timing chain... can't imagine it's bad but i gotta rule it out right?

 

[Bigal75]

Yes verify that your timing is good. Are you running an msd ignition? The reason I ask is certain timing lights won't work correctly with msd ignition.

 

[doublekrossd]

Yes, msd box, msd pro billet, msd wires. Timing light works with msd on other systems. I can feel and notice the timing moving, and there is a bit of a surge in power at idle

 

[Bigal75]

I think it's the dial back timing lights that don't work . If the timing chain is new then I doubt that's the problem.
As for carb tuning, a wbo2 would help you immensely to get it close to where you want it.

 

[doublekrossd]

I'll look into finding one, thanks man!