Fun with Powervalves
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 10:16 pm
Decided to put a powervalve in my alky dominator to lean out the cruise a bit and save some fuel.
I do run a progressive linkage on my carb.
My combo is:
74 Nova 3265lbs
SBC 406, dyno at 750hp.
6000 converter,powerglide
5.11 gears,
Square jetting at 196, it would use around a gallon per pass.
I installed a 3.5 powervalve. I measured the PVRCs at .135, calculated the area, and subtracted that from the area of a 196 jet, added a little fudge factor and came up with a 150 jet. Doing the math, it cuts back about 42% of the jet area.
I made 18 passes last night on 10 gallons. So I using just over a 1/2 gallon per pass. I am pretty surprised it was that much.
When I footbrake, I launch around 3200 rpms. Last week without the powervalve, it was showing in the 4.20-4.3 range. Now its in the 4.7-4.8 range. When I originally saw that test driving, I was thinking I would have to go further.
I do think I am a little small on the front jet because the front 4 cylinders were about 40-50 degrees hotter than the back, so I am going to add some jet to the front. Not sure if the limitation is the powervalve itself and not the PVRC. I do have the 4 window PV, and I plan on measuring the area in the powervalve.
I do run a progressive linkage on my carb.
My combo is:
74 Nova 3265lbs
SBC 406, dyno at 750hp.
6000 converter,powerglide
5.11 gears,
Square jetting at 196, it would use around a gallon per pass.
I installed a 3.5 powervalve. I measured the PVRCs at .135, calculated the area, and subtracted that from the area of a 196 jet, added a little fudge factor and came up with a 150 jet. Doing the math, it cuts back about 42% of the jet area.
I made 18 passes last night on 10 gallons. So I using just over a 1/2 gallon per pass. I am pretty surprised it was that much.
When I footbrake, I launch around 3200 rpms. Last week without the powervalve, it was showing in the 4.20-4.3 range. Now its in the 4.7-4.8 range. When I originally saw that test driving, I was thinking I would have to go further.
I do think I am a little small on the front jet because the front 4 cylinders were about 40-50 degrees hotter than the back, so I am going to add some jet to the front. Not sure if the limitation is the powervalve itself and not the PVRC. I do have the 4 window PV, and I plan on measuring the area in the powervalve.