What RPM @ Idle
 

Finally fired my new engine the other day. It's a worked 454 with a pretty healthy cam in it. Seems to like to idle best @ 850 - 900 RPM. I'm wondering how the clutch assembly in an older Bravo (1990) is going to handle shifts at this higher RPM? I hear that the older bravo's have a weaker clutch assembly then the newer ones, and are not updatable. Is this true?

Thanks,
Scott

Can't help with the Bravo as I have TRS with transmissions, but my 454's idle 1000 RPM in neutral and 750-800 rpm in gear. Cams have 235/245 @0.050 duration.

With my cams, idle and shifting is very dependent on ifnition timing. I have MSD distributors with a short curve, so that I have 18* initial and 35* total advance. At less than 15* initial you can't put the trans into gear at any (reasonable) RPM without the motors stalling.

-Greg

They should be fine at those rpm's. I've always been told that they can handle up to 1,000 but you don't want to go over that.

You shouldn't have a problem. My engine idles at 900-950 in nuetral and 750-800 in gear. Never had a problem and goes into gear just as easy as when my engine was stock.