I just had my 1970 302 bored .030 over, put on a pertronix ignitor II ignition, Edelbrock Performer 289 Intake, Performer Cam, Edelbrock 600cfm carb. My problem is that I cannot seem to get it to idle at less than 1000 rpm's. I try to put it into gear and it quits. I tried adjusting the carb with the jets on the front 1 turn out and idle screw as low as possible. Still smell rich exhaust. I checked for vacuum leaks, put new spark plugs in, etc. Any ideas?

 

well it might be linked to the idel adjustment screw next to the throttle rod. While the cars running (and up to operating temp.) turn the screw untill the idel set to right where you need it. I think the dying problem when you put it in reverse is linked to the car shotting back, or forward, and all the gas being pulled away from the carb. The car may be running rich from the fuel/air mixture screws, theres two on each side of the front of the carb, so like the last adjustment, have the car running to do this. Rule of thumb is to close one side till the car is ready to die, than back out a half turn, and the same with the other. Turn the car of and continue to check the plugs (they should be a tan color for the perfect fuel/air ratio, white its too lean anything darker than the tan, is still running to rich

 

Is your timing too far advanced? It's easy to do with the Pertronix install.
If it is, you'll probably experience some difficult hot starts as well...

 

Yeah, my 66(with iginitor 2) does that. I just have to keep it idled high. So when i put it in gear, it doesn't die.

 

my '69 with ignitor 2 does it, I have yet to find a fix

 

but i dont think it is the ignitor because mine did it before i believe, but maybe im wrong........ i could be.

 

I had to turn my air/fuel mixture screws out 4 1/2 turns to get it leaned out. I still have to time it again, but at least it idles at about 750 rpm's now. Would you time it @6BTC or advance it just a little?

 

normally retarding the timing will slow down the idel, while advancing it, will speed it up. There are several tecniques in getting optimal performance out of you cars motor. There is an article in Mustang Monthly about 6 months ago on how to get 15 hp and 13 lbs torque just by retarding it X amount of degrees. Im not sure which, but it all depends on the lift and duration of the cam. Too extreme a cam, and a timing light is not a option, however it can be done. I have a 280 duration and 433 lift in mine, so really, retarding or advancing the timing is out of sight for me because as soon as the intake closes the exhaust opens so quick, im surprised it even runs

 

O.K. Mustang guys,
I got the carburetor set, I set the timing @ 8 BTC because thats where it runs best no-vacuum. I plug the vacuum back into the canister and it advances it to 24 BTC. Shouldn't it be between 12-16 BTC? That's what I am reading in the Mustang Monthly articles. It still kills when I put it into gear. It doesn't learch forward or anything. I suspect that I have to adjust the vacuum canister? Could this be the reason for the thing killing when I put it into gear...too far advanced? Thanks for any valuable input,
Ed