125 HP would be fine if I could get this thing to run right.
I spent my afternoon working on the car. It had an exhaust leak at the head so I figure today was as good as any to fix it and while doing it give the carbs a good cleaning and find out what needles I have. The exhaust leak was bad, the gasket actually had a crack in it. The new gasket came from IPD and has soft metal around the exhaust ports but, after it was installed I still have a leak, the first one was from the #4 and this one is coming from either 2 or 3. I'm convinced its the header because when I removed it you can see where it mates well to the head and where it barely meets it. I hate dealing with shit products and am ready to toss this header up IPD's ass. The needles in my carbs are KN's. While I had the carbs off the car I noticed how dirty they were around the areas where the throttle shafts enter and exit the body. These carbs were only rebuilt maybe a 1000 miles ago, again dealing with shit when I spent good money to have a 'pro' rebuild them. Another problem I discovered was oil in the vacuum tube to the Distributor. I cannot figure why oil would be there except to think somehow when the crankcase is blowing off pressure oil is traveling through the crank case tube to the vacuum port on the intake and is right next to where the vacuum is for the distributor. Some how possibly the oil is building up at that point and making its way into the vacuum tube. Its pissing me off because again, you pay good money for the 'proper' set up and it doesn't work. Look, I'm just a guy trying to enjoy a car but this fucking thing is more of a headache than I want or need. The car runs no better now with a brand new engine rebuilt carbs, new exhaust etc. then it did when I bought it all tired and beat up from California. Anyway, I adjusted the carbs according to the manual. While the carbs were benched I brought the jets up to exactly flush with the body, then lowered them exactly 15 flats. Cleaned the dash pots and refilled them with ATF. The car started right away and ran surprisingly well. I went on to adjust air flow to equal amounts and then raised the jets to the point where the rpm drops off, but it took a good 6 flats to make this happen, is that normal? I get that you can play with the idle screw and adjust the jets to compensate whether its 1/2 a turn or 2 turns, these carbs are way to simple and that aspect I like. Paul your saying to jump the 123 to the E curve, Ill try it. As far as the 3:90 gears this car was at one time an automatic car and thus has the 3:90 set up. I like the gear set and realize the pick up is compromised but for long trips these gears are great in fifth gear. And Paul how is it you know this motor will only make 125 HP?