383 Fire up

[73383]

Started the 383 for the first time last night. It sounds reeeeal good. As I was breaking in the cam, the header pipes from the two rear cylinders, (7 & 8), started to glow red. I had been running about 15 minutes, so I shut it down. The engine was not over heating, temp was running 180-190 F. Also it does not appear to be running lean.

Question 1) Is this normal. Do the rear cylinders run leaner.

2) Could valve adjustment have anything to do with
this.


Engine Specs.---- timing was set at 8 BTDC, MSD ignition, Sportsman II heads, 9.5 comp, Performer RPM intake, Holley 770 Street Avenger, 280 Comp Cam. Comp magnum rockers.


Dennis

 

[Hib Halverson]

Header primaries glowing read means either lean mixture or retarded timing. If you were breaking in the cam, you were running that baby at mid-range rpm and no load.

My guess is your part throttle carb calibration could be a bit lean.

Also, where is your PVC and vacuum source connected? The back of the intake, by chance?

You said the timing was 8 deg, but that's initial. What's the total adv. along with any vac. adv. you might have?

After cam break-in, don't forget to change that oil filter. You'll find it plugged with assy. lube.

BTW: that's a really good selection of mods you have for a 383. That motor ought to be a torque monster and, provided you have the right springs for the cam, make some pretty good power up around 6000 rpm.

Lastly, I assume this 383 is in a C4---how are you getting the hood closed with that Performer RPM?