Timing/ Tuning a '73 318

[OSUcowboy]

I need help!

I am working on a '73 dart swinger with the factory 318.
The car overheated a while back and has had the head gaskets replaced by me just recently. After completing the work it's just not quite running right. I have had the car for several years and I feel I have never had it quite tuned correctly. I think the problem is timing. I am currently running 9 degrees advanced and the car runs ok off idle, and ok at idle when warm, but bogs and will die when the throttle is punched and released from idle. It is also VERY hard to start now. Before the work I was running about 5 degrees advanced, and it ran ok, but never what I would call really well.
It my not be timing please give me any suggestions. Also the car has an Edelbrock performer carb and manifold and brand new plugs and wires.


Thanks

 

[JR]

A pretty stock 318 with an intake and carb will run good at 9* to 12* advanced. A good baseline setting for an Eddy carb is to start at 1 1/2 turns out on each of the mixture screws and adjust from there. If you have to turn the screws more than 2 1/2 turns out for it to run right there is something else wrong. Make sure that the vacume advance on the distributer is plugged into the passenger side of the carb as the driver side is constant vacume.

 

[JR]

Oh and welcome to the site

 

[SRT_DSTRHOLC]

i heard if th head holts arent torqued correctly it can over heat..

 

[moper]

What is the cylinder pressure? Overheating causes rings to lose tension, and pistons to scuff too.

 

[OSUcowboy]

I messed up and did not do a compression test before and I have not done one since. I should elaborate a bit on what happened. It overheated and did not actually blow a head gasket, It had water in the oil but it was from an incorrectly installed intake. The main bearings were bad but they did not turn. I looked at the rod bearings and they appeared to be good so they didn't get changed. And thank you for the warm welcome!

Also I did some reading in my carb book and it said the passenger side was for emissions controlled motors. Go ahead and and change it anyway?

Thanks I really appreciate the help!