Ok i just (like 2 hours ago) bought a 1979 Camaro Z28. The top engine of the engine has 2,000 miles on it, and the bottom end has 6,000. I paid 1800 for it. It has a 350 Turbo trans (i think, 3spd) and a 355. Here are the mods.

Performer RPM cam
Holley 750cfm Carburater
Trickflow heads
Performer RPM intake (i think)
Fuel pump of some sort (can't have a gas cap)
2400rpm stall
3.42 rear gears
Headers of some sort
Blue spark plug wires (not sure what kind of dist.)
ET street rears on weld rims and 4" front on weld rims

.. and i forgot what else. I can check in the daylight, but didn't get the chance tonight.

Problem is is this car seems slow. I have a pretty much stock 1995 Firebird Formula, 5.7L LT1 with an 4L60E (A4) into a stock stall (1500rpm) and 2.73 rear end gears. And the formula seems much faster.

I was told the Camaro i bought needed the carburater tuned. It dynoed 278rwhp, 349rwtq untuned. Shouldnt it be making more power? The cam in it seems pretty rough. I had my dad look at it since i didnt know how to tune a carb, and he said the adjuster screws were backed out so far it looked like they were going to fall out. Any ideas of what i should do? It just seems like it should be making more power.

 

Holleys are so much fun to tune...... I just love them.....NOT !!!!

Buy a book and read up on them.. Alot of variables with Holley carbs.... They are good carbs and alot of aftermaket stuff for them.. They are just tempermental...

www.amazon.com

 

The best place to start with the adjuster screws is probably 1-1/2 turns out.
Gently turn them clockwise until they stop. DO NOT FORCE them. Back each one out 1-1/2 turns. Start the car, idling in park turn in 1 screw at a time (very slowly) until the engine just starts to run rough. Turn the screw back until the car is running better and add a 1/4 turn out. Hopefully you have a vacuum secondary carb as a mechanical secondary carb would probably be too much.
Having said this about the carb make sure to check your timing! I had a 79 t/a with a built 455 (and 650 carb) that ran horrible out the box. New engine, new carb, new everything. The first major dumba** mistake I made was not timing the car with the vacuum line plugged. I fixed this and it was a ton better but still not great. After hundreds of dollars later (ignition, carb, plug wires) I figured out that the low profile air cleaner I had put on it to fit under the now hood mounted snorkle wasnt letting enough air in it at higher rpms. I fixed that, put the 650 back on and I was in business. 13.03 on street tires with nothing taken out to help with weight. (11.72) on the Gas!
Hope this helps out some