High altitude tuning and timing

[yakmastermax]

Hey all! It is high time that I tuned and timed my truck for the altitude I'm at. The truck is originally from Austin (500-1000ft above) but right now I live in Boulder (5500 ft) and for the foreseeable future I plan to take my truck up to keystone (9000 ft) for skiing and then mountain biking once summer comes. Right now I can barely make it up I-70 and prefer Loveland pass because I can go nice and slow there but sometimes they close it when it snows heavy

Can someone point me in the right direction to get my truck tuned?

Also should I pick up a timing light? my grandad has one in his garage that I could take but I need to know if I need it ASAP!

Thanks!

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Does it still have the original carburetor?

A timing light is a great tool to have and they aren't terribly expensive.

 

[yakmastermax]

not sure if it has the original carb, I can get a picture pretty quickly. I do know that the engine was rebuilt at one point.

 

[GreyZuk]

Any current info on tuning a stock carb on a 1980 V8 350 to run a trail at 10,000' elevation?
Fwiw, I'm referring to the Dusy Ershim in central CA

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Any current info on tuning a stock carb on a 1980 V8 350 to run a trail at 10,000' elevation?
Fwiw, I'm referring to the Dusy Ershim in central CA

What elevation is it setup for now?

I used to run mine from ~5000 ft. up to ~11000 ft all the time with no noticeable issues.

 

[GreyZuk]

It's been used primarily (and I assume the p/o tuned) for sea level up to a out 3500'

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

It's a carburetor, it can really only be tuned to work at one elevation. My Q-jet sure didn't seem to mind altitude a whole lot, it had to have been running richer at altitude but I never noticed much difference in how it ran.

You can give it a shot, the only other option is swap to leaner jets once you get up to altitude. I'd do the prior.

 

[GreyZuk]

Thanks Chris!

I just got this thing a couple weeks ago. It's a bone stock 1980 with 80k on it. I've given myself 1 year to get it ready for the Dusy so I'm sure ill be calling you soon to get a mess of parts heading my way. :-)
I may start a thread for the build

 

[mrk5]

I always liked running the initial timing advance 4-6 degrees higher as well. As far as specific carb tuning, I had a Holley so it's not the same as a qjet.