Question about 540 CI Dart Motor

[Xpock182]

Originally Posted by Ketzer

Welcome to the forum.
This place is pretty LS heavy but there are a few of us that still love a healthy big block. You'd also be pretty surprised at what else some have in their garages besides a musclecar! Real car guys like all cars.


Jeff-

Thank you for the kind welcome!


I have reviewed many forums and this one appears to have the most active & available information along with a large member base. Not to mention some awesome rides! Hopefully my big block fits in well here despite all the epic LS motors

[Neil B]

Is that a street car with a 540 big block, a 3.5" exhaust and NO mufflers? Holy crap, what does it sound like?

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Neil B

Is that a 540 big block with a 3.5" exhaust and NO mufflers? Holy crap, what does it sound like?

Good catch..

now we really need some video or sound clip!

[Xpock182]

Originally Posted by Neil B

Is that a street car with a 540 big block, a 3.5" exhaust and NO mufflers? Holy crap, what does it sound like?

I will be sure to take some videos as soon as I get the last few things patched up on the car. It does have mufflers however but it is 3.5'' exhaust

[Xpock182]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

You will need a minimum of a 150 gph pump with less than 7 lbs of pressure.

I'd start with a 10w30 and look at your oil pressure, hot at idle. If it's below 15-20, bump it up to a 10w40 or 15w50. Us a detergent oil as mentioned.

Redline is likely around 6200 with a hydraulic cam, 6500 with a mechanical.

Unless things have changed, Edelbrock's biggest carb is 750 cfm. That's to small for a 540. I agree that people think they look cool but you will need to go to a holley if you want to swap to one carb. I'd take a good look at the plugs if you think it's not running correctly.

Call the car what you want.

Would this work as a solution? Also would I need a regulator since it is set at 7.5 lbs of pressure and not 7?

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...arts/12-454-25

[Vegas69]

Holley seems to think that it doesn't. I would put a NON LIQUID filled gauge on it to ensure you aren't getting to much pressure. Also, your supply line to the pump needs to be sufficient.

[uxojerry]

Dart 325 heads would be a normal selection for a 540. With Lemon's headers and a 3.5 inch exhaust, Im thinking your 540 is something more, maybe Dart 345s. A run of the mill 540 is 650hp. A trick 540 is 850hp or so.

There aren't many BBC fans here. Remember you'll make more hp with a plug wire off, than most with a perfect tune, lol.

[Xpock182]

Originally Posted by uxojerry

Dart 325 heads would be a normal selection for a 540. With Lemon's headers and a 3.5 inch exhaust, Im thinking your 540 is something more, maybe Dart 345s. A run of the mill 540 is 650hp. A trick 540 is 850hp or so.

There aren't many BBC fans here. Remember you'll make more hp with a plug wire off, than most with a perfect tune, lol.

Could you tell me more about what you are referring to here? Also I am trying to figure out why the car is not cranking up immediately all of the time. It seems that after it sits for a week or so it won't crank.

I took the air filter off and try to crank it but I don't think it's getting gas. However if I pore a small amount of gas directly into the carburetor it cranks right up and runs fine.

I cleaned the fuel filter (it was a mess) cleaned the distributed cap & sprayed carburetor cleaner in both carbs.


Unfortunately the car does not have a fuel pressure gauge. This car sat for about 2 years before I purchased it.

Any advice? Is this a bad fuel pump?? Spark plugs?? Perhaps this car was not built for street gas??


Would love some help.

[AMSOILGUY]

Originally Posted by Xpock182

Could you tell me more about what you are referring to here? Also I am trying to figure out why the car is not cranking up immediately all of the time. It seems that after it sits for a week or so it won't crank.
When you say it won't crank do you mean the engine won't turn over or it just won't start and just cranks? Take your battery and have it tested. I keep a trickle charger on my car alot of the time and I bet alot of others do as well.

I took the air filter off and try to crank it but I don't think it's getting gas. However if I pore a small amount of gas directly into the carburetor it cranks right up and runs fine.
Pumping the gas peddle should accomplish the same thing i'm guessing you have done that?

What kind of gas are you pouring into the carb? Is it the same fuel thats in the tank?
I cleaned the fuel filter (it was a mess) cleaned the distributed cap & sprayed carburetor cleaner in both carbs.


Unfortunately the car does not have a fuel pressure gauge. This car sat for about 2 years before I purchased it.
Have a regulator and fuel pressure guage installed if you can't do it yourself.

Any advice? Is this a bad fuel pump?? Spark plugs?? Perhaps this car was not built for street gas??

Pull a fuel line and see if you have pressure. If you do then you need to make sure its the correct amount. Pull a plug and check the gap i'm thinking it should be around .035.



Would love some help.

Not a whole lot of help but this should be pretty easy to get figured out. Sounds to me its just a little cold blooded. Once you get it started does it not hard start after that until you let it sit again for a while?

[Xpock182]

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Not a whole lot of help but this should be pretty easy to get figured out. Sounds to me its just a little cold blooded. Once you get it started does it not hard start after that until you let it sit again for a while?

Yeah once its warmed up its starts immediately from that point forward. Idk if its just a cold start (its 94 degree's in Georgia) or if the carburetor is getting gummed up or if the fuel pump is going bad.

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

When you say it won't crank do you mean the engine won't turn over or it just won't start and just cranks? Take your battery and have it tested. I keep a trickle charger on my car alot of the time and I bet alot of others do as well.

The battery is good, I have a Volt Meter it reads about 14. Battery is a new Optima. The motor turns over perfect I just can't get it to fire as easy as I would like it to.

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Pumping the gas peddle should accomplish the same thing i'm guessing you have done that?

Yeah If it doesnt crank up after a few seconds I heal the break and Toe the gas. Still doesn't seem to be getting any gas until after its cranked... then it runs just fine. And its the same gas from the tank that Im putting in the carb, 93 Pump gas.

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Have a regulator and fuel pressure guage installed if you can't do it yourself.

I already have a regulator but not sure what the GPH is on it. I would assume 7-7.5. I need to get a fuel pressure gauge installed asap.

Originally Posted by AMSOILGUY

Pull a fuel line and see if you have pressure. If you do then you need to make sure its the correct amount. Pull a plug and check the gap i'm thinking it should be around .035.

Pulling a fuel line is a good idea, I'll try that today. As for the spark plugs I have been putting that off as they are a total pain in the ass to get to, but I probably need to do it.