Technical Is my Flathead Tuned Correctly?

Yes, it doesn't mis or stumble its just runs out of steam at full throttle. I am going to take it out tomorrow with some carb adjustments on both ends. I will take the scoops off and see.

 

John I adjusted the mechical advance to 24 degs total advance. I am going to look into the timing again now that I have a working tach. I only used my ear before. Maybe it's coming in too late or too early could be the problem. One thing at a time.

 

53 -

Have you...checked the air-fuel ratio...yet ?

You won't get very far if you don't know where to start !

Mike (with two, 54 Studebakers)

 

Ken , I too use my ear and nose for tuning and so far it’s been ok in many years. So it’s not going to be a 750hp stallion like the the studebaker but should be fun below 50mph lol. Just like any other building issues something stupid and easily overlooked. It’s amazing what you did with just bits of cars and hope to see the roadster at Iron Invasion ..

 

I wish the iron invasion hadn't moved. I loved that show. My hot rod fit in with everyone else. The lack of chrome and a shiney paint job isn't everyone's cup of tea. Making every part sourced separately to go together, some original patina and some faked was fun to do once. I am very happy with how it turned out.

 

Well today I put all of the advice I received here on the hamb to the car. Gas leaks galore with the new grose valves to seating with the 5/16 inverted flare. The threads bottomed out before the line would seat. Chamfered the threads a little bit.
Replaced all the well plugs with nylon washers stopped all of the leaks there. Adjusted the floats wet at a 1/2 as mine where all too high.
Took the progressive linkage totally off and started the car on just the center carb. Started right up and adjusted each carb to match the air flow as close as I could get them trying to keep the idle about 800-900 rpm where it seems to like. Any lower and it shakes quite a bit with the cam.
Reconnected the progressive linkage back on and adjust to bring the end carbs a lot sooner. I suspect the end carbs came in way too late and never opened very far. Big fail on my part. Scoops didn't seem to effect anything.
Fuel air mixtures adjusted for highest rpm. End carbs were turned in too far and starving for fuel.
Result: way more throttle response and high gear can easily pull 4000 rpm! It's like a new car. Thanks for all the help. The forum is what keeps this hobby alive.

 

Awesome news! Glad to hear it. Yeah, everything wasn't adding up. Glad it was a relatively easy fix. Now run the wheels off of it!

 

Awesome to hear can’t wait to see it and hear it

 

The only way I can tell you if it is tuned correctly is for you to bring it over here. I'll tune it properly and tell you what if anything I needed to change.

Basically on a good day you are probably cranking out a whopping 125 horse. That don't sound like much but it is at least 40 horse more then a '64 Volkswagen beetle. Weight is probably close to the same, ever drive a 60 horse V-Dub? Compare it to that.

 

The last one I drove was 1976. I can't remember but I will ***ume it wasn't much to remember it.

 

Good job ,

 

Way to stick with it ; it sounds like you have a runner. Congratulations.

 

Thanks everyone for sticking around. I still have the timing to look into. I thought I heard a little pinging pulling up hill. I use what I can get here for gas. 91 octane ($4.89) without any ethanol. Maybe retard it a just a tweak.
Cruising down the road with the wind in my face!!!!
https://youtube.com/shorts/nhhnM0YpJBg?feature=shares

 

Nice looking motor!!!!

 

My 8BA is 100% stock other then the alternator. I don't street race anymore so cruising is good for me. We all know a stock 8BA is 100hp. I have a over kill 9" with highway gears and a C4 trans. 8BA iron heads. Champion plugs. Single 94 on 8BA iron intake and I keep it tuned to spec... I mean by ear..,
I can cruise the freeways at 60 plus MPH. Street driving is great due to the fact that I don't need to do highway speeds. I can make hills pretty good with normal driving.
Of course, my performance is different than what you're getting.
Enjoy your flathead. They're fun engines.

 

Great news.
Hook up a vacuum gauge to your intake vacuum. Move your timing to the area with the highest reading.
Next, back off your distributor until your vac drops a few pounds then tighten it up. Old school timing. I use this on all my flattys.
That engine sounds great.

 

Thanks I have tried that method before with a build where the degrees on the damper had slipped in the rubber insulator.