[Gator67]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

About the tick:

I noticed that if you overfill your oil you will have quite a bit of oil pressure fluctuation. That would be from the crank spinning up the oil like a blender creating bubbles that don't pump well. I figured that out when using a ZDDP additive to my oil. Got it a little too full and watched the oil pressure drop. On one really good launch I heard some ticking as the oil pressure dropped. I changed the oil making sure I got it exactly right on the stick and the pressure stayed between 40 and 60 consistently.

That must have been a giant bottle of ZDDP additive. What type do you use?

[pastry_chef]

Originally Posted by 64speed

mechanical cam

SolidCamsTTFMF.
Be warned it will have a mild ticking sound as the valves seat faster, "dangerous" in some minds.

Own a timing light and use it.

[TAQuest]

Originally Posted by Gator67

That must have been a giant bottle of ZDDP additive. What type do you use?

Lucas Break in. It was over full about 2 -3 cups is all. Pretty scary when you see your oil pressure drop like that on a launch. My wife was driving and she nailed it as she went around the corner and started flying down the highway. She's got the stick thing down so she puts the engine through the paces like I do, maybe harder. It's fun watching her drive the car. When other old cars go by with the guys driving and the girl watching I get a smile because I know what they are thinking. They want to have the fun she is having. She gets to drive more than I do. I will drive for a few minutes then she gets her turn that lasts for hours. Gives me plenty of time to listen and figure out if there are any funny noises to look into. I just hate funny noises like ticks and rattles.

[TAQuest]

Originally Posted by pastry_chef

SolidCamsTTFMF.


Own a timing light and use it.

I own one. If I use it to time I ALWAYS have to change it for the best performance without detonation. I have always known, 30+ years of wrenching and being a retired machine repairman, that a timing light wasn't the 'end all' with timing. When my previous one broke I didn't buy a new one until recently when folks here suggested using it for trouble shooting. That was a good idea.
A funny thing; When I got this car from the deceased owner's sister I noticed it didn't even have a timing tab. She said he always timed by ear. Another old school guy like me. It was his idea for the 2157 cam in the first place. Thomas was a great guy, a New Jersey fireman that died in his fifties suddenly. One savvy individual to say the least.

[pastry_chef]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

If I use it to time I ALWAYS have to change it for the best performance without detonation

That makes no sense. The timing light is used for consistency and accuracy. You dial the timing to the best performance either on track or dyno. Best dyno timing *may* be different than the track.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

I own one. If I use it to time I ALWAYS have to change it for the best performance without detonation. I have always known, 30+ years of wrenching and being a retired machine repairman, that a timing light wasn't the 'end all' with timing. When my previous one broke I didn't buy a new one until recently when folks here suggested using it for trouble shooting. That was a good idea.
A funny thing; When I got this car from the deceased owner's sister I noticed it didn't even have a timing tab. She said he always timed by ear. Another old school guy like me. It was his idea for the 2157 cam in the first place. Thomas was a great guy, a New Jersey fireman that died in his fifties suddenly. One savvy individual to say the least.

Yeah, astute guys spend $3000 on Edelbrock performance heads and install a camshaft grind intended for a school bus ...

[West Coast GTO]

I just had Cliff redo a 800 cfm Quadrajet for my 455 and, when looking at the cam that was installed he said: Why do you have a cam( 2157) designed for a 350 in a 455?
My answer: well, the previous owner paid a " mechanic" to install the Edelbrock system( heads, intake, carb and cam) and the cam was " recommended" by Edelbrock.
Now that I have the carb back, I can change the cam at the same time.

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

Yeah, astute guys spend $3000 on Edelbrock performance heads and install a camshaft grind intended for a school bus ...

[Stan Weiss]

If you leave the RAIV cam out of the equation there are still a few Pontiac production cams (Tri-power and earlier Ram Air) that will produce more HP than that Edelbrock cam with a smooth idle.

Stan

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit either.

I said it was a high 12's car.

I was probably racing when your parents were sitting in the stands thinking about creating you. Hope I helped! Think about that and have a fantastic weekend.

Yeah just what I thought. Not even close.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

I'm thinking that the 703 isn't a good choice for these heads.

Perhaps you could explain your expert logic in coming to this conclusion? Did you even attempt to isolate the "tick" and determine what caused it? Did you inspect and measure the cam lobes to determine it was a bad cam?

I can tell you what cam is not a good choice for your application … the one you have that requires octane booster to keep it from pinging.

[Steve C.]

"....and the cam was " recommended" by Edelbrock."

Similar to Comp Cams just regurgitating the use of the 995 valve spring for a great number of their cams ! In the catalog and a guy sitting in a work cubicle answering the phone.



.

[Sirrotica]

You guys are confusing him with facts, instead of old wives tales......

The old power timing by ear where you run the engine up to 3 grand and set the timing to the point where it sounds the best. That works great until the pistons start hammering and the rings break, and get pinched in the lands. I've seen it done on an oval track engine that was junk within 15 laps...………………….

Octane booster is a crutch for something that is not correct in the initial spec of the whole sum of parts. A mismatch of parts will lead to a situation such as needing octane booster in copious amounts, just to be able to drive a car on the street. Anyone willing to place a bet as to the condition of the rod bearings in an engine that detonates in street driving? How about a leakdown test, I'd bet it shows faulty ring seal due to detonation.

A set of craftsman tools doesn't make you a mechanic, or able to tune engines. Age is also not an indicator of intelligence.

[pastry_chef]

Here is a low 12's 69 Firebird with Edelbrock heads on a 400, running a cam about the same as the Voodoo 703. 2600 stall converter, I'd use more myself.
http://www.pontiacstreetperformance....uild400jk.html

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

I said it was a high 12's car.

You did claim the same cam got you in the 11's with a 428 build.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

You guys are confusing him with facts, instead of old wives tales......

The old power timing by ear where you run the engine up to 3 grand and set the timing to the point where it sounds the best. That works great until the pistons start hammering and the rings break, and get pinched in the lands. I've seen it done on an oval track engine that was junk within 15 laps...………………….

Octane booster is a crutch for something that is not correct in the initial spec of the whole sum of parts. A mismatch of parts will lead to a situation such as needing octane booster in copious amounts, just to be able to drive a car on the street. Anyone willing to place a bet as to the condition of the rod bearings in an engine that detonates in street driving? How about a leakdown test, I'd bet it shows faulty ring seal due to detonation.

A set of craftsman tools doesn't make you a mechanic, or able to tune engines. Age is also not an indicator of intelligence.

Agreed. And on the bet, I was just talking to someone else about this the other day. I'd bet the engine isn't going to last all that long if he drives it a lot. It'll have detonation damage for sure, it's just a matter of time, but we'll never hear about it of course, lol. Just like we'll never see a video of a drag strip pass in it either.

[TAQuest]

Originally Posted by pastry_chef

Here is a low 12's 69 Firebird with Edelbrock heads on a 400, running a cam about the same as the Voodoo 703. 2600 stall converter, I'd use more myself.
http://www.pontiacstreetperformance....uild400jk.html

Different heads than mine. I have the 72cc and had the 703. I like the low end of the cam I have now better.

[TAQuest]

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

You did claim the same cam got you in the 11's with a 428 build.

Yes, with nitrous. On that car I used 6X heads. Have it all on video. I had a nitrous pumping station right at the track.

[TAQuest]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Agreed. And on the bet, I was just talking to someone else about this the other day. I'd bet the engine isn't going to last all that long if he drives it a lot. It'll have detonation damage for sure, it's just a matter of time, but we'll never hear about it of course, lol. Just like we'll never see a video of a drag strip pass in it either.

Always a pessimist. I already drove it for ten years. Why would I have a problem now?

[pastry_chef]

Originally Posted by TAQuest

Yes, with nitrous. On that car I used 6X heads. Have it all on video. I had a nitrous pumping station right at the track.

Nitrous. ROTFL.

[Bentwheelbob]

And this is helpful to Sam and his tick?