Poly 318 Spark Plug Coloring

[Dakar Timm]

Looks real nice. How do you like it with the headers? I've been contemplating pullin that trigger

All the motor work was done by my father in law several years back . The heads were decked to raise compression, a dual plane intake mated to a Holley 4 barrel completes the intake. A different cam was installed when replacement piston were installed . If I remember correctly ,the piston bores were overbored .010" . The Stainless headers ,I believe came from acompany called TTI .
This was all done long before I met my future wife . My point is ,I don't have a reference point to how a stock 318 Poly accelerates . The car revs out very smoothly ,starts easily and cruises seemingly without much effort .
I wouldn't say it is fast in the traditional sense . It moves out very respectably from 30 to 75 or so .
I need to tighten up the steering before I see what any faster feels like . It's a ragtop.. so outright speed isn't a priority . We have other toys for that .

 

[R. Shackleford]

All the motor work was done by my father in law several years back . The heads were decked to raise compression, a dual plane intake mated to a Holley 4 barrel completes the intake. A different cam was installed when replacement piston were installed . If I remember correctly ,the piston bores were overbored .010" . The Stainless headers ,I believe came from acompany called TTI .
This was all done long before I met my future wife . My point is ,I don't have a reference point to how a stock 318 Poly accelerates . The car revs out very smoothly ,starts easily and cruises seemingly without much effort .
I wouldn't say it is fast in the traditional sense . It moves out very respectably from 30 to 75 or so .
I need to tighten up the steering before I see what any faster feels like . It's a ragtop.. so outright speed isn't a priority . We have other toys for t

Yeah that sounds like a little more work done than mine but similar traits. Very smooth acceleration and yeah 30-75 is quite nice

 

[R. Shackleford]

Ok UPDATE:
Took out the Belvedere the other day and she started running like garbage. Burnt up another set of points and condenser. Did a little hunting and the voltage regulator decided to give out. I noticed the other day the headlights were changing drastically with the RPMs. Replaced the VR, starter relay, points and condenser and now runnin great. Idles better too. I have that set at about 750 at hot. The vacuum is steady at 17* when RPMs at 825 but when I go to 750 it jumps between 17-13. No vacuum leaks anywhere to be found around the intake or carb. Thoughts?

 

[RemCharger]

Ok UPDATE:
Took out the Belvedere the other day and she started running like garbage. Burnt up another set of points and condenser. Did a little hunting and the voltage regulator decided to give out. I noticed the other day the headlights were changing drastically with the RPMs. Replaced the VR, starter relay, points and condenser and now runnin great. Idles better too. I have that set at about 750 at hot. The vacuum is steady at 17* when RPMs at 825 but when I go to 750 it jumps between 17-13. No vacuum leaks anywhere to be found around the intake or carb. Thoughts?

Have you ever set your valves

 

[R. Shackleford]

Have you ever set your valves

I have not no. I had planned on doing that at some point but probably should be done sooner than later.

 

[RemCharger]

I have not no. I had planned on doing that at some point but probably should be done sooner than later.

It's step 1 in the diagnosing / tuning process

 

[R. Shackleford]

It's step 1 in the diagnosing / tuning process

Ok will do. Any trick for the Poly that isn't in the factory build book?

 

[RemCharger]

Ok will do. Any trick for the Poly that isn't in the factory build book?

Just a quick rundown,
Disable ignition
Pull valve covers
Hook up remote start switch
On each cylinder, when the intake valve is starting to open , check and adjust the exh. Bump it some more till that exh is starting to close and check the intake.
X8.
The polys are very easy to work with

 

[R. Shackleford]

Just a quick rundown,
Disable ignition
Pull valve covers
Hook up remote start switch
On each cylinder, when the intake valve is starting to open , check and adjust the exh. Bump it some more till that exh is starting to close and check the intake.
X8.
The polys are very easy to work with

Ok little update. Had a little time to do the valves yesterday and here's my findings....
The intake valves were very close to the .013" factory setting so adjusted to that. However the exhaust valves were way off. Factory setting is .021" and they were set around .007" so I set them to the factory. Now I have a very noisy engine that sounds like a sewing machine. I went back and forth double checking all measurements. Seems to just be the major change in the exhaust valves where the sound is coming from. This is my first poly so not sure how ticky they are supposed to sound. Thoughts?

 

[RemCharger]

What year is the motor? Adjusted cold( room temp?)

 

[R. Shackleford]

What year is the motor? Adjusted cold( room temp?)

1965 and adjusted at operating temp per factory suggestion. I know it has an after market cam in it but not much over factory specs so not sure if that has something to do with the exhaust gap being much less than factory

 

[RemCharger]

1965 and adjusted at operating temp per factory suggestion. I know it has an after market cam in it but not much over factory specs so not sure if that has something to do with the exhaust gap being much less than factory

Went through my old shop tuneup book and it shows .010 / .018 for 62-65 polys . 13 /21 for 66/67.. however, the non stock cam will or can change that. You could probably tune those exhausts down to 15. You want to make sure the engine is good and HOT

 

[R. Shackleford]

Went through my old shop tuneup book and it shows .010 / .018 for 62-65 polys . 13 /21 for 66/67.. however, the non stock cam will or can change that. You could probably tune those exhausts down to 15. You want to make sure the engine is good and HOT

Oh ok cool thanks man, that should calm them down a bit. I'll get to that this weekend or perhaps tonight even

 

[Geoff 2]

Aftermarket cam changes EVERYTHING.

More lash is worse than less lash when lash is unknown. I would set lash to 0.013" int, 0.015" exh, cold.

 

[R. Shackleford]

UPDATE:
Ok I took the time on Saturday to do the valves. I set the intake at .010" HOT and exhaust to .015" HOT as well. Not sure what these translate to at cold but the idle has smoothed out, the vacuum has settled and the acceleration feels much better and cleaner.