Very Frustrated - Engine Problems! - Page 2

patrija · #21 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 07:15 PM

Pic #1

patrija · #22 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 07:16 PM

Pic #2

ERA535 · #23 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 07:47 PM

Could you pull the rotor (that is the light grey thing that is in the center of the distributor) off and take another picture?

patrija · #24 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 07:54 PM

Wilco, in a couple mins. Battery just died, of all the luck. Hoping to get a quick charge and then repost.

BTW, What's the best way to clean fouled plugs?

Jason

patrija · #25 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 07:57 PM

OK. Gotta quick charge.

Tried starting again ... no luck.

ERA535 · #26 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:02 PM

I see a brass eyelet sitting to the left inside the distributor - what is that and why is it loose? Check to see if it obviously goes somewhere....

ERA535 · #27 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:03 PM

A picture of the inside of the rotor will be good too! (I don't know how you are going to shine some light in there so I can see, but....)

patrija · #28 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:11 PM

Pic: The brass eyelet is the "other side" of another eyelet. The wires it's connected to run to the MSD box.

patrija · #29 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:15 PM

tried 4 pics of inside the rotor. this is the best. to look at it, there's nothing inside there.

ERA535 · #30 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:18 PM

Does that eyelet have a wire connected to it? I imagine it does, and if so, it looks like it should be fastened to something like the other eyelet.
I use an MSD distributor - so I can't go out and check mine to compare it to yours......it looks like an Accel distributor (?).

Maybe someone else uses this set up and can go and check where or if that other eyelet is fastened down?

How long have you had your car running? What I am trying to get at is this.....is it all brand new and only has a few miles on it? Or have you been running it successfully for years.

patrija · #31 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:28 PM

The eyelet does not have a wire connected to it. I looks more like a place to screw down, similar to the other side. No wire connected to that side. Wire come out of the rubber piece in the middle.

The car is about 2 years old. It had 250 miles when I bought it in early October 2001 and now has almost 1000 miles on it. I had some problems previously, but a visit to the engine builder last week seemed to fix the problems (about 350 miles of the 1000 were from a long road trip last weekend after getting back - it ran great during that time). Now the new problems started to occur since last Sunday.h

At this point, I'm hoping to just get it started so I can drive it to the local carb mechanic in the AM. It'll crank, but no ignition.

ERA535 · #32 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:37 PM

What problems did you have last week? Anything related maybe?

patrija · #33 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:42 PM

I'm sure related, but different symptoms. It was running very rich to the point of gasoline on the manifold, adjust/replace the carb's power valve, adjusted the valves, replaced battery, and replaced the header gaskets. Was really running great when I got it back.... not sure what happened.

Best bet would be to take it down again, but that's a week or two off and would require renting a trailer again. Was hoping this was a minor item that a mechanic could quick fix (e.g. power valve) and be able to drive it there tomorrow (only about 5 mins from my house.

poorboy · #34 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:45 PM

Patriga;
Looks likeyou have a stock Ford Dist., which is what Southern Automotive uses in most of their engines. The brass ring you see is just a hold down for the pigtail that comes thru the side of the dist., as you can see in the picture it is screwed down on one side as is the way most of them are. Looking at the plugs will not be of much help because of the way it has been running they are all going to be gas fouled. Being gas fouled could also be the reason it won't start. From the look of the carb it looks like it has been running rich. Once plugs are gas fouled they should be replaced. Most mechanics don't like to work on carbs after other people have messed with them. Not knowing anymore than you do I would wait until you take it to someone that knows what to do to it.

Poorboy

ERA535 · #35 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:48 PM

One more picture!!!

Inside the distributor cap -with plenty of light.

patrija · #36 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:52 PM

Based on that, I would definitely say carbon. I just pulled the #5 plug and looks the same as the #4 plug. Also, was getting some kind of liquid silver "metalic" residue off the plug's threads. Consistency of thick oil or grease.

Just found this site which shows spark plug diagnosis. Pretty good.

http://www.tsrsoftware.com/read-plugs.htm

Would it help get it started for me to pull all the plugs and clean them? Can I use a brake/carb cleaner on it?

Jason

patrija · #37 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 08:55 PM

Inside the cap.

>> trying a different pic

ERA535 · #38 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 09:01 PM

A little blurry to see anything.....you look at it - see anything out of place?

Sorry I couldn't help you, Patrija.

The plugs should be OK after they dry out, and run a piece of sandpaper between the electrodes (blow it out well after).

When you put it back together (make sure you seat the rotor when you put it back!) make sure all the plug wires are on tight and in the right places!

Good luck - let us know what was wrong.

patrija · #39 (**permalink**) 11-19-2001, 09:07 PM

I do appreciate your help!

I'm going to try to pull all the plugs and clean them tonight with sand paper to see if it helps start in the AM. Keep your finger's crossed!

Andy Dunn · #40 (**permalink**) 11-20-2001, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by patrija
Also, was getting some kind of liquid silver "metalic" residue off the plug's threads. Consistency of thick oil or grease.

this is probably anti sieze. some mechanics use it on plugs to help insure they do not get stuck in the heads.

Andy