Next Step?

[Anonymous]

I've lurked around here awhile and gotten to know Marco and a few others here. I'm really wondering what my next step is in terms of upgrades for HP. I've got a 200ci that's got cliffy head, headers, a weber and the 254 cam. I'm also running pertronix in my stock distributor with a pertronix flame thrower coil.

I was able to coax 110RWHP out of this weekend with the way it sits. Am I to understand my next step logically is a recurved duraspark distributor and MSD 6AL to really get the oooomph I'm looking for? Or will the PTRX ignition and coil suffice?

 

[CoupeBoy]

When you installed the head did you check the compression and mill the head for the desired CR?

When you installed the cam did you double check its specs? Did you dial it in? (why am I having brane lockup on cam tuning techniques)

How about a fresh air induction kit?

I am just trying to make sure you are getting the most out of what you already have before moving on to the next step, if you have already done this stuff, feel free to ignore my babbling.

What distributor are you running? In a '66 mustang you should have a load O'matic but you are running a webber carb..Have you upgraded it once already? If not a Petronix will not be the answer until you upgrade to a '68 or later. In which case the D2 may be the dist for you and you could do like I am doing and run an GM HEI module. It's been working great for me for 3 years now.

-ron

 

[WhitePony]

If he got the Clifford "Torque Monster" head, it comes milled.060. Plus it's ported and pollished. Bit pricy though at $995 plus a $150 core charge. Doing your own porting and pollishing, you could probably match the head specs on a core for $300-400.

 

[Anonymous]

1) a weber and the 254 cam.
2) I'm also running pertronix

1) Aren't both on the small side?
2) I have never run the Pertronix. I don't hear a lot of great things about it.
The duraspark and MSD 6AL have been working GREAT for me.

 

[65coupei6]

You can go for the Duraspark and MSD 6a or a regular Duraspark control box. But, they won't give you more hp. (Unless you are looking for 1/4hp to 1/2hp more) You will notice a better idle and quicker starts. The throttle response may also be a little crisper.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy ddrach and all:

Which Weber are you running? You could make use of 350 CFM, maybe more for peak HP.

You didn't say what year your distributor is either. If it is a Load-a-Matic, switching to a distributor with centrifugal advance will make a difference in mid to upper range power. '68 and later point type and '75 and after DuraSpark II both have both vacuum and centrifugal advance. And "Yes" recurving the advance will also help power to come in quicker. Your top end, peak HP may not change much but you'll get there quicker.

Adios, David

 

[Anonymous]

Marco thanks again for the kind words, I think we both work very hard on our cars to get that certain look. Speaking of which I got some pictures from a club guy that show a really trick and fully chromed 6 from Restomods in Reno? Also some from HANS which show a 6 labelled GT200 with a blower hat sticking out the hood? Unfortunately they didn't see the owner all day so they couldn't get him or her to lift the hood for more pictures. Is anyone aware of a red 65 Mustang with a blower out the top? I'd sure like to find out more about that for me new project.

On to the meat of the issue:

I have the torque monster head, it was worth the wait. I am probably doing the head a disservice because i've not zero milled the block but at the time I just didn't want to break the motor down. The car still flat gets up and boogies even though it is on a stock motor.

I have the weber 38 DGES carb with just the redline rectangle air kit. I was thinking of getting the adapter and then using that ram air Marco sent me again. I liked it when I had it on before the head swap and cam installation.

I'm running the stock distributor with the pertronix in it. So perhaps I'll start looking for the upgraded set if only so I do get that better response. Am I to understand through previous posts elsewhere on the board that I can get rid of the in turn bog and lagged start with the upgrade? That'd be worth it alone.

 

[Anonymous]

Am I to understand through previous posts elsewhere on the board that I can get rid of the in turn bog and lagged start with the upgrade? That'd be worth it alone.

I am suspicious of that kind of advice. I would not be so quick to blame the ignition for symptoms like that.

 

[CoupeBoy]

I might not blame 100% of the problem on the dist, but his distributor was designed for a completely different vacuum signal then what it is getting to it now. And that most certainly cannot be doing him any favors. When I setup my buddies car with a newer Holley we also switched him to a D2 using a blue strain box. He's never been happier (atleast with the car performance) ddrach needs to be running compatible parts.
Maybe he could get a '68 points dist and put his current petronix in it (I do not know if they use the same part number, so double check before proceeding)

-ron