My 396 engine 350hp has only 4 inches of vacumn.. and will only idle at 1000 rpm and 18 degrees advance, I have a elderbrock performer manifold, a eldebrock 750carb with a luniti 241cam. Could I have the wrong crab gasket and a vacumn leak there? the car will barely move until I use a lot of rpm to get moving.the engine has no lope which is confusing. I talked to a guy at summit racing and they say the cam should not be a problem.. any ideas??

 

Check your vacuum at the intake manifold fitting that's between the carb. and distributor, and see what reading you get.

 

Found the problem, called lunati and told them what vacumn I have and cam. They said with the cam it would only have 5 inches of vacumn, the cam is for 3500 to 6500 rpm ..i let a friend talk me into this cam not realizing it was for racing only.ism not looking forward to changing the cam but to be able to drive on the street no choice..the thing that gets me is talked to folks at summit racing and they told me the cam is fine ..cannot trust them for advice.even tho this cam has only .525 lift it has 301 degrees overlap. No wonder it has no low end..