Got this weird situation happening and before I start dumping money in it I thought I would ask.
I have this Kiekhaefer 482 (Chevy big block). It’s a bit of a monster with a loopy cam and somewhere around 10.5 to 1. I saved this motor only seen in the history books from the scrap heap. I got the motor intact from the oil pan to the intake but a couple of the add on’s I’m not sure off.
Here’s the issue. I get the motor running, warmed up. Get the timing, idle and air bleeds on the 800 Holley set perfect. She is a little lumpy idling around 800rpm’s but sounds good. Good throttle response when goosing the throttle up a couple grand revving the motor. Now here is the weird thing, even if you just bump it a 4 or 500 rpms a couple time (like before putting it in gear) when it comes back to idle it just falls off and dies like you turned the switch off. Open the throttles some and hit the key and it starts right back up. Give a couple of revs and it goes to back the way it was in the first place. Wait a minute and give it a couple revs and it drops right off and dies again.
Back to the add on’s issue. Even though this was a historic 1969 motor (like said from intake to oil pan) I’m not sure about the carb (Holley 800 D/P) and the distributer (part # lists for a late 70’s Camaro) so I’m too attached to them.
So I guess I have 2 questions;
1, What do you think is causing my issue? I'm leaning to a dist issue.
2, Is a Holley 800 D/P to much carb for this motor?

• Block - 340220 .... 427T ...... 68-85 ... 4-bolt 1968-76 427 tall - cut .060 over, decked and lined bored
• Eagle 4340 forged / 4.250 Crank / 445442526385 - mains .000 / rods .010
• Zollner Forged Chevy .060 - 14cc Dome Pistons - Speed Pro/TRW L2399NF - Compression Ratio=9:1 / Dome Type=Closed / Pin Type= floating
• Rods - 621-3404 custom made by Kiekhaefer (6.405)
• Heads 3964291 RECT PORT - Valve size 2.19 intake, 1.88 exhaust, closed, 108.9cc (Crane Cams ported and polished)
• Bronze Valve Guides
• Valve Seals / 505-16 Comp Cams - ptfe, Positive Stop, .530 in.
• Harlin Sharp Roller Rockers / Heavy Duty Series
• 7/16 Pushrods and guides
• APR screw in rocker studs
• Comp Cams CCA-205 Camshaft Thrust Button
• Cloyes Street True Double Roller Timing Sets 9-1110 (4+ degree advance)
• Cran Solid Roller Lifters
• Crane Cams - Part #:138091 Mechanical roller tappet / Grind Number:TR-252/400-2-10, Basic Operating RPM Range:3,500-7,000 / Duration at 050 inch Lift:252 int./262 exh. Advertised Duration: 290 int/300 exh
• Crane Valve Springs / 96886-16 / Dual Spring / coil bind 1.150 / Spring Rate 652lbs
• Oil Pump – Melling 10778C - Oil Pump, High-Volume, 25 Percent Over Stock, Anti-Cavitation
• Winters Industries Aluminum Intake Manifold # 396364 / 7-11 - 69 (July 1969) Marine, Ported and Polished by Crane Cams
• Holley 850 D/P model # 4150, 850 CFM - 80 jets and 6.5 power valve in both ends
• Enginetech PK3B Brass Freeze Frost Plugs
• ATP-Z296 / Flywheel, 168-tooth
• ACCEL 140001, Ignition Coil, Super Coil, 45,000V
• 1103337 HEI Distributer - Accel Cap With External Coil
• Clevite 77 Cam Bearings
• Clevite - CB743HN Rod Bearings
• Clevite - MS829H Main Bearings

Gaskets;
• Fel-Pro Performance Marine Head Gaskets - 17040
• Felpro Intake Manifold Gasket Set / Part - # MS 90005
• Felpro Valve Cover Gasket Set / Part # - VS 30055 R

wrong powervalve in carb,,stayng open and dumping fuel in and killing it,,when you hold the throttle open your induceing air to make it start..see shat your vacuume is and take that number and cut it in half..if its 10'' put a 4.5 power valve in it..

you did not mention what the initial and total timing is set at.it is not uncommon to need more initial timing with large lumpy cams.

With this motor I started off with 12 to 14* initial timing and idling around 800rpm’s. Seems to like it there. Not sure what all in timing is yet (just started to work the bugs out of the build) but it don’t knock or ping.
After a second look I’m starting to lean in Fixx’s thinking. After pulling the air cleaner and such and taking a look down the throat the carb seem to be running rich. So I started watching adjusting Holley videos. Accelerator pump adjustments, accelerator cam gears, 20 different power valves and 20 different jet settings and any combination of all the above. And yet people love these Holleys. Hell even after a total rebuild I ran this spring a couple weeks and then let the boat sit for a month and all the screws in the damn carb had to be given an extra twist to stop it from leaking after starting it and fuel pressure built up.
Like you all said I need more info. Vac # and all in timing.

Initial timing set at 12*
looks like I'm getting 17* out of the distributer without the vac advance hooked up.
Vac is between 7 and 8 at 800rpm's

ill call you around noon saturday mark..most likely need a 3.5 power valve..

12+17=29,not enough timing.set the total at 34 and it will like it.no power valve can fix an engine with lazy ignition timing.

he is not taking it to 5k....

Vacuum advance on a 482 kiekhaefer marine engine? really?

you need that vac advance when cruzing down the interstate at 70.lol,