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Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 3rd, 2015, 6:26 am
by hurleygo3
I'm in need of some help. I'm having issues with getting my motor to idle. Specs are 2000 block, 7120 head, Harlan Sharp, banks header, rockers hesco 274 cam. Running the 2000 stock injection. Issue is it runs great off idle. Won't idle when hot. Afr at idle is about 10.5 and has very little vacuum 10-11. I think the issue is the low vacuum causing issue with the MAP sensor. Would advancing the cam help? Or should I put the stock cam back in? Would a MAP adjust help this issue?

Looking at this adjuster.
https://splitsec.com/wp-content/uploads ... r_inst.pdf
H-274

274
224
108°-112°
480
Hi-performance street - fair vacuum - healthy exhaust sound

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 3rd, 2015, 6:35 am
by Cheromaniac
The low vacuum is definitely playing tricks on the MAP sensor but even the Hesco H274 cam should produce more than 10-11"Hg of vacuum at idle.
You almost certainly have a vacuum leak so I think you should start by searching for the source.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 3rd, 2015, 6:38 am
by hurleygo3
I spoke with Bennie at Hesco. He also said that cam should be running more vacuum.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 3rd, 2015, 10:20 am
by SilverXJ
Vacuum leak or some other problem. Did you degree the cam in? Did you check push rod length? The MAP adjuster won't fix your problem.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 3rd, 2015, 8:06 pm
by cruiser54
Are you running a catalytic converter?

Could you have an exhaust restriction? There's a vacuum test specifically for that.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 11th, 2015, 1:28 pm
by hurleygo3
Ended up pulling motor and installing a stock one for the race. Push rod length was good, no vacuum leaks, exhaust is wide open. Cam was not degreed. Cam timing is going to get checked here soon. Possible it was one tooth retarded. Should know here soon.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: February 11th, 2015, 2:11 pm
by SilverXJ
That is what I think it is.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 5th, 2015, 9:05 am
by hurleygo3
Well. I'm still having the same issues. I installed a new stroker build and I'm still having the vacuum issues. Low bouncing vacuum. 6-8"
This is a new new build but used the same head and same cam. 7120 head with cambers cleaned up and a Hesco 274.
Motor runs good, has a flashed ECM. But it heats up when you get into it. Runs cool at ides or cruising.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 6th, 2015, 3:04 pm
by christuned
Did you degree the cam ? What is the intake centerline ?

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 7th, 2015, 12:17 am
by hurleygo3
christuned wrote:Did you degree the cam ? What is the intake centerline ?
It came in at 116*
Hesco calls for 108-112

That is with the cam installed straight up. Compression is 150 across all cylinders.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 7th, 2015, 4:07 am
by jeepxj3
1 tooth is how many degrees?

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 7th, 2015, 10:25 pm
by christuned
hurleygo3 wrote:
christuned wrote:Did you degree the cam ? What is the intake centerline ?
It came in at 116*
Hesco calls for 108-112

That is with the cam installed straight up. Compression is 150 across all cylinders.
The cam being that retarded is a problem, did you use a stock replacement timing set or a roller set ? Do you have a specific part number ? You definitely want the cam in the 108-110 ICL range.

Also 150 cranking compression is low, getting the cam timing corrected should bring that up a bunch.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 8th, 2015, 7:18 am
by hurleygo3
This is the chain I'm using. Closes double roller.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/bran ... leSwitchNo

Hesco also thinks the cam is one tooth retarded. Hope to move it tonight and redegree.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 8th, 2015, 7:55 am
by jsawduste
Mike, cut and pasted from your link.

UPC:
750385701459
Timing Chain Style:
Double roller

Maximum Advance/Retard at Camshaft:
2 degree

Maximum Advance/Retard at Crankshaft:
4 degree

Several options here. Plenty of ways to install it and very possible to have it retarded. My 14 inches is with it advanced 4 degrees. Same setup as the dyno sheets.

Re: Low engine vacuum. Poor idle.

Posted: July 8th, 2015, 10:11 am
by christuned
jsawduste wrote:Mike, cut and pasted from your link.

UPC:
750385701459
Timing Chain Style:
Double roller

Maximum Advance/Retard at Camshaft:
2 degree

Maximum Advance/Retard at Crankshaft:
4 degree

Several options here. Plenty of ways to install it and very possible to have it retarded. My 14 inches is with it advanced 4 degrees. Same setup as the dyno sheets.
Did you degree it when installing, if so what did it come it at after you advanced it four degrees?