Hi guys.

Finally got the ignition sorted on the clevo and run into another problem. Engine develops heaps of compression (approx 200 psi on cranking) but almost no vacuum at the carb when running (5 psi) and won't rev past idle. It also only wants to idle at 50 deg advance and backfires a lot. I have disconnected and plugged all the vacuum points, and redone the inlet manifold with no change. I have also double checked the cam timing. Hoping someone here has an idea as me and 2 separate mechanics have no idea what's going on

Cheers,

Ric

Hi mate,
In my limited experience that sounds like ignition to me especially if it wont rev and is back firing. I would try another distributor and coil that you know works out of another car. Also the damper pulleys used to spin the ring with the timing marks on them. It was a fairly commen problem with clevelands. you can check that fairly easily by checking tdc on no1 cylinder then checking what mark is lined up with the pointer and the damper pulley.
Hope this helps.

Even though you say you've checked cam timing twice, this is what it sounds most like with the limited info you have provided.

I would recomend checking cam timing a third time right from first principals. Make a piston-stop from an old spark plug if you don't have the right tool, and check that TDC really is TDC. Then depending on the cam card setup info, check either lift @ TDC or intake centreline.