About Jim Holsbeck Expertise I can answer most questions on Chevrolet vehicles up to 1996, or before the ODBII.
Experience I have been working on cars since I was eight, when I started handing my dad wrenches. I did my first complete rebuild at 14, and my first restoration at 16. When it comes to Chevy, if I don't know the answer off the top of my head, I can find it out fairly quickly. (My entire family is a bunch of gear heads.)
Education/Credentials 4 year machinist degree, with a 2 year mechanical drafting.
Question I set the rpm to 800 on a 350 chevy when it is in drive when i put it back in park it goes to 1400 rpm is the Timeing off or is this normal
Answer Les,
It really depends on the year of vehicle, but typical idle rpm should be around 500 and in gear rpm around 400 or so. A big jump like that would indicate to me that your fuel/air mixture is off, your idle screw is set too high, or you have a vacuum issue somewhere. You might have the timing too far advanced as well, so start with that and work around the other things till you hit on the right combo. Of course, all of this assumes a carburated engine. Timing should begin around 10-12 degrees BTC (before top dead center). Good Luck.
