Where to start...Tunnel Ram T Bucket...

no i was serious. we put 2 edelbrocks on the nova. it does run good but we just cant dial them in like we could with the holleys. holley has alot more parts available to dial them in than edelbrock.i agree with you 100% sir.sorry if there was a misunderstanding, i knew what you were saying, maybe i just didnt word it right.

 

in thought holley fixed that problem with the power valves. i read that the new ones were blow proff somewhere. a few yrs ago.i remember we had to change them after the first backfire but we havent had to do that for awile now.

 

OK....lots of things to start with.

I should have prefaced the thread first off by stating this car is near a museum piece and only minimal (mostly non visual) changes can be made. It was built and completed in 1971 and other that the tires/wheels and swapping the 600 Holleys for the 450s is ALL original to when it was built. So no changing the tunnel, the distributor, adding additional coolers, fans, linkage etc. This may limit the options but so be it I have to work within these constraints to keep the car as original as possible to when it was built.

Here is the thread I posted a few years back detailing when where and how i got the car. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381399

When we got this car back and began this process we discussed changing the converter when we had the transmission out. However, given it only has the smallish tranny cooler built in the radiator those who suggested it then retracted thinking the transmission could more easily overheat. So, we opted to leave the stock one in. It does ok with the stock one, doesn't load the motor at an idle too bad that I can see. I agree it would most likely help a bunch getting the RPMs up to get a super smooth start right off. But unless someone can convince me it won't add a bunch more heat and cause other issues I'm sticking with the stock one.

Like I mentioned in one of the earlier posts I had to fit a 1" spacer plate under the front carb to get the vacuum reading at idle. Never intended on running it with the gauge on it. I see how that could be a good source of info moving forward. I would have to have a port drilled, either in the baseplate of one of the carbs (preferred) or in the intake (probably not going to happen on the intake). If we put the port in the base plates, where should it be placed?

Here are a few pictures of the setup:

Drivetrain was originally taken from a 1964 Impala, engine, tranny, rearend. All stock other than the list in my first post.

It has backfired a few times, especially when it was cooler out or when it fouled a plug so power valve(s) could be blown.

Your continued input very much appreciated.

Regards,
Bill Wilson
The Turnover T
Lee's Summit, MO

 

Hogwash. I'm getting almost 17 mpg on the road with 3.73 gears and no OD trans, WITH my tunnel ram on a .040" over 327. A tunnel ram doesn't have to be poor mileage, and they can perform well if tuned properly.

 

1st- you can easily get 16-18 mpg w/ atunnel ram
2nd- "blowout preventer's" are available from jeg's-summit... cheap & easy to install..
3rd -I'm curious as to what the List # of those carb's is? I wasn't aware that holley made a 450-vac. sec.... Has someone modified them for vac. ??

dave

 

Dave,

I'll have to pull the stacks off and look. These were some 1960s FE style setup carbs from what i understand. NO vacuum ports on the bases, simple, plain etc.

Regards,
Bill Wilson
The Turnover T
Lee's Summit, MO

 

I would go ahead and swap the converter. The car wieghs hardly anything, and an 11" isn't going to slip (this is where the heat issue would come in) very much if at all at part throttle in a car that light. And trust me on this, it WILL make it easier to get the car to idle well. Unless the car already has a 6 cylinder glide converter in there, which is a good possibility considering when it was built. How much does the rpm drop when you put it in gear?

 

One or two of these under the car will help the transmission cooling.

 

Do love your enthusiasm!! You know thunnelrams can work on the street!!I love mine(The looks and the drive ability) It would help if the people that have negative comments would explain their attempt's to tune and the problems they
encountered(You and others most likely could figure out the problem)Keep posting I,m getting a free education!! Pete

 

Man, that's one sweet looking Tbucket. It must have been blast showing it in the '70s. I know of a hand full that were built in the early '70s here in Indy, and they are very special.

 

Ok, so I'm seriously reconsidering the stall now.

Here is an offering from Summit Racing...http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HUP-PG25/.

Is this what I'm looking for, sounds like the item most of you are recommending?

Regards,
Bill Wilson
The Turnover T
Lee's Summit, MO

 

Yup, thats what you are after.

 

No big deal either way, just wanted to be clear myself. I've gotten more than one free Holley because someone was conviced it was no good and more still in trade for Edlebrocks I ended up with.