Ford Fairlane 1955 V8 272 Y-block
I've changed the intake manifold to a 1957, new 0-8007 Holley 4 Barrel 4160 Carburetor
with a new msd distributor.
My problem is when I give throttle pulling  out, I have very little power and have to hold the pedal to the floor and at about 40 mph it feels like it starts picking up rpm's and gaining speed and runs terrific on the top end but getting there is an adventure
On my old setup this wasn't as much of a problem as I attributed slow going to the gearing, I just expected more power with this set up on starting speed.
Can a new gear in the rear end help with this set up and give me more torque on take off?
If I pull out in front of another vehicle accidently and have to floor the pedal to get going I'm in trouble.
 .

You have tuning problems.

Which advance curve are you using and have you verified that that curve is actually what you are getting?

There is no such thing as a ready-to-run carburetor and tuning is required.  I know they will advertise that it is ready to go but it is not.  Have you tuned it?

What is your vacuum at idle?

Different gears can help but it is probably not your problem.  What is the current gear ratio?





Lawrenceville, GA

What gear are you using in the rearend?

I wonder if the trans is actually taking off in high gear. Try shifting manually into LOW and see how it takes off. Assuming it's an auto trans.. Changing intakes and carbs can mess up the trans throttle pressure settings.

Tuned very little, just enough so it wouldn't die when placed in gear.

Assuming you have verified that the car is taking off in one of the lower gears, then consider some of the following.

Have you timed the engine with a timing light?  If the base ignition timing was set with a timing light, was the vacuum advance disconnected when doing so?  Where is the vacuum advance hooked up?  Have the timing marks on the damper been verified as being in the neighborhood?  Those older dampers have been known to slip thus throwing the timing marks into a new neighborhood.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

AS Ted said, take the heavy silver springs off and replace with the light silver and light blue then you should see a better low end.



-Gary Burnette-