Classic Mustangs List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ffacker (Fred Facker)

For those following the saga, I replaced my intake
manifold gaskets on my 66 289 C-code with 600 cfm
Holley 4150 and c4 transmission on Sunday and have
been attempting to get my car to run since then.

Monday night after refinding TDC and retabbing the
carburetor several times, I still could not get the
car to start. It was backfiring and shooting flames
out of the carburetor.

I didn't get a chance to work on it Tuesday, but last
night I retarded the timing and started advancing it a
little at a time until the car started. No backfires
all night. I then set the timing with a timing light,
the motor felt strong, but the transmission wasn't
quite shifting correctly. It was like it didn't want
to go back down to first when I stopped or it was
skipping out of first too soon and going to third too
late or something. Anyway, it ran, which was good
because it's my only car.

This morning I started the car to come to work. It
fired right up on the first turn of the key, but it
was idling super fast. I gave it a little gas, and
that kicked the idle down quite a bit. However, I then
pulled out of the driveway and it died in the street.
When I tried to restart it, I got backfires out of the
carburetor. I tinkered with the timing for about 30
minutes trying to get it to restart before I gave up
and called some guys from my office to come help me
push it back up the driveway and give me a ride to
work.

All I can figure is I've got a big vacuum leak
somewhere, but where? It's new carb with new gaskets.
The carb only has three vacuum outlets. One is going
to my PCV, one is going to the distributor and one is
plugged. On the back of the manifold I've rechecked
the metal line to the tranny to make sure it's tight
and replaced the rubber vacuum line that runs from it
to the metal line that goes down to the transmission.
Is there anything else I could be missing?

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: davec (Dave Cunningham)


I would check the distributor advance mechanism itself... it sounds like it's malfunctioning.

Dave

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
>Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2004 12:25 PM
>To: 'Mustang List-serv'
>Subject: [CM] This backfiring is killing me
>
>For those following the saga, I replaced my intake
>manifold gaskets on my 66 289 C-code with 600 cfm
>Holley 4150 and c4 transmission on Sunday and have
>been attempting to get my car to run since then.
>
>Monday night after refinding TDC and retabbing the
>carburetor several times, I still could not get the
>car to start. It was backfiring and shooting flames
>out of the carburetor.
>
>I didn't get a chance to work on it Tuesday, but last
>night I retarded the timing and started advancing it a
>little at a time until the car started. No backfires
>all night. I then set the timing with a timing light,
>the motor felt strong, but the transmission wasn't
>quite shifting correctly. It was like it didn't want
>to go back down to first when I stopped or it was
>skipping out of first too soon and going to third too
>late or something. Anyway, it ran, which was good
>because it's my only car.
>
>This morning I started the car to come to work. It
>fired right up on the first turn of the key, but it
>was idling super fast. I gave it a little gas, and
>that kicked the idle down quite a bit. However, I then
>pulled out of the driveway and it died in the street.
>When I tried to restart it, I got backfires out of the
>carburetor. I tinkered with the timing for about 30
>minutes trying to get it to restart before I gave up
>and called some guys from my office to come help me
>push it back up the driveway and give me a ride to
>work.
>
>All I can figure is I've got a big vacuum leak
>somewhere, but where? It's new carb with new gaskets.
>The carb only has three vacuum outlets. One is going
>to my PCV, one is going to the distributor and one is
>plugged. On the back of the manifold I've rechecked
>the metal line to the tranny to make sure it's tight
>and replaced the rubber vacuum line that runs from it
>to the metal line that goes down to the transmission.
>Is there anything else I could be missing?
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ffacker (Fred Facker)

I thought of that and checked it. I get the same
results whether I have the distributor advance line
connected or whether I plug it. The engine starts,
runs a couple seconds and then backfires out the carb.
Although I do have to advance the timing a bit to get
the engine to start (if you can call it starting)
without the distributor advance connected.

>I would check the distributor advance mechanism
itself... it
>sounds like it's malfunctioning.
>
>Dave

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: davec (Dave Cunningham)


How about the points?

Dave

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
>Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2004 01:02 PM
>To: 'Mustang List-serv'
>Subject: [CM] Re: This backfiring is killing me
>
>I thought of that and checked it. I get the same
>results whether I have the distributor advance line
>connected or whether I plug it. The engine starts,
>runs a couple seconds and then backfires out the carb.
>Although I do have to advance the timing a bit to get
>the engine to start (if you can call it starting)
>without the distributor advance connected.
>
>>I would check the distributor advance mechanism
>itself... it
>>sounds like it's malfunctioning.
>>
>>Dave
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: chris (Chris Russell)


intake manifolds are notorious for needing to be re-torqued several times
after they are installed due to the gaskets "settling in". Check the
torque on the intake manifold bolts.

is the timing chain/gears old/original? Maybe the chain skipped... the
original gear has plastic teeth that eventually deteriorate.

the fast idling at startup might be misadjusted or sticking fast-idle
linkage/choke on the carb?

if you get it running again, check the timing advance at idle with a timing
light to verify it is not way off and hook up a vacuum gauge to verify you
get reasonable and steady vacuum at idle.. you can sometimes track down a
vacuum leak by spraying brake or car cleaner at suspected leaks, and if you
find one the idle will race higher momentarily. be careful. have some
wet rags around just in case you create some flames.

Chris

At 09:25 AM 9/9/2004, Fred Facker wrote:
>For those following the saga, I replaced my intake
>manifold gaskets on my 66 289 C-code with 600 cfm
>Holley 4150 and c4 transmission on Sunday and have
>been attempting to get my car to run since then.
>
>Monday night after refinding TDC and retabbing the
>carburetor several times, I still could not get the
>car to start. It was backfiring and shooting flames
>out of the carburetor.
>
>I didn't get a chance to work on it Tuesday, but last
>night I retarded the timing and started advancing it a
>little at a time until the car started. No backfires
>all night. I then set the timing with a timing light,
>the motor felt strong, but the transmission wasn't
>quite shifting correctly. It was like it didn't want
>to go back down to first when I stopped or it was
>skipping out of first too soon and going to third too
>late or something. Anyway, it ran, which was good
>because it's my only car.
>
>This morning I started the car to come to work. It
>fired right up on the first turn of the key, but it
>was idling super fast. I gave it a little gas, and
>that kicked the idle down quite a bit. However, I then
>pulled out of the driveway and it died in the street.
>When I tried to restart it, I got backfires out of the
>carburetor. I tinkered with the timing for about 30
>minutes trying to get it to restart before I gave up
>and called some guys from my office to come help me
>push it back up the driveway and give me a ride to
>work.
>
>All I can figure is I've got a big vacuum leak
>somewhere, but where? It's new carb with new gaskets.
>The carb only has three vacuum outlets. One is going
>to my PCV, one is going to the distributor and one is
>plugged. On the back of the manifold I've rechecked
>the metal line to the tranny to make sure it's tight
>and replaced the rubber vacuum line that runs from it
>to the metal line that goes down to the transmission.
>Is there anything else I could be missing?
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

--
Chris Russell
Engineering Manager, ZK Celltest Inc.
408-986-8080 x209
(email redacted)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ffacker (Fred Facker)

It's Pertronix.


>How about the points?
>
>Dave

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: davec (Dave Cunningham)

Damn! Shot down again... LOL

If I were checking for leaks, I'd use gumout or something like that.

Dave


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
>Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2004 01:31 PM
>To: 'Mustang List-serv'
>Subject: [CM] Re: This backfiring is killing me
>
>It's Pertronix.
>
>
>>How about the points?
>>
>>Dave
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: SSEXSMITH (Sexsmith, Scott)

Is the air gap set correctly? Any old points and condenser laying around
that you could substitute for testing purposes?

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 10:32 AM
To: Mustang List-serv
Subject: [CM] Re: This backfiring is killing me

It's Pertronix.


>How about the points?
>
>Dave
_______________________________________________
Classic-mustangs mailing list
(email redacted)
lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ffacker (Fred Facker)

It was set correctly when I pulled the distributor out
on Sunday. I've still got that little piece of plastic
it came with it to gap it, so I'll check the spacing
tonight. I've also still got the points, but I'm
doubting the Pertronix just suddenly went bad.

>Is the air gap set correctly? Any old points and
condenser
>laying around
>that you could substitute for testing purposes?
>
>Scott

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: tgorsuch (Terry Gorsuch)

I haven't been following so you may have checked this, Could you
possibly have a hair line crack in your dizzy cap?

Terry Gorsuch
1977 Bronco Sport
351W EFI
2.5" lift
3" body lift
35" BFG Tires
Edmond Oklahoma



-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted)
[mailtoemail redacted)] On Behalf Of Dave
Cunningham
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 11:58 AM
To: A list for owners of Classic Mustangs
Subject: Re: [CM] This backfiring is killing me


I would check the distributor advance mechanism itself... it sounds like
it's malfunctioning.

Dave

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
>Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2004 12:25 PM
>To: 'Mustang List-serv'
>Subject: [CM] This backfiring is killing me
>
>For those following the saga, I replaced my intake
>manifold gaskets on my 66 289 C-code with 600 cfm
>Holley 4150 and c4 transmission on Sunday and have
>been attempting to get my car to run since then.
>
>Monday night after refinding TDC and retabbing the
>carburetor several times, I still could not get the
>car to start. It was backfiring and shooting flames
>out of the carburetor.
>
>I didn't get a chance to work on it Tuesday, but last
>night I retarded the timing and started advancing it a
>little at a time until the car started. No backfires
>all night. I then set the timing with a timing light,
>the motor felt strong, but the transmission wasn't
>quite shifting correctly. It was like it didn't want
>to go back down to first when I stopped or it was
>skipping out of first too soon and going to third too
>late or something. Anyway, it ran, which was good
>because it's my only car.
>
>This morning I started the car to come to work. It
>fired right up on the first turn of the key, but it
>was idling super fast. I gave it a little gas, and
>that kicked the idle down quite a bit. However, I then
>pulled out of the driveway and it died in the street.
>When I tried to restart it, I got backfires out of the
>carburetor. I tinkered with the timing for about 30
>minutes trying to get it to restart before I gave up
>and called some guys from my office to come help me
>push it back up the driveway and give me a ride to
>work.
>
>All I can figure is I've got a big vacuum leak
>somewhere, but where? It's new carb with new gaskets.
>The carb only has three vacuum outlets. One is going
>to my PCV, one is going to the distributor and one is
>plugged. On the back of the manifold I've rechecked
>the metal line to the tranny to make sure it's tight
>and replaced the rubber vacuum line that runs from it
>to the metal line that goes down to the transmission.
>Is there anything else I could be missing?
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>


_______________________________________________
Classic-mustangs mailing list
(email redacted)
lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: dano (Dan O'Reilly)

Good idea - I had a hairline crack in a cap cause that before several
years ago (another car, but still the same sort of funky problem).

Or possibly plug wires causing cross-fires in others...? I know proper
routing for the plug wires is to separate 7 and 8 in the wire loom on
the valve cover to prevent that sort of thing. In the loom, I believe the
correct order is 7/5/6/8.

At 01:21 PM 9/9/2004, Terry Gorsuch wrote:
>I haven't been following so you may have checked this, Could you
>possibly have a hair line crack in your dizzy cap?
>
>Terry Gorsuch
>1977 Bronco Sport
>351W EFI
>2.5" lift
>3" body lift
>35" BFG Tires
>Edmond Oklahoma
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: (email redacted)
>[mailtoemail redacted)] On Behalf Of Dave
>Cunningham
>Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 11:58 AM
>To: A list for owners of Classic Mustangs
>Subject: Re: [CM] This backfiring is killing me
>
>
>I would check the distributor advance mechanism itself... it sounds like
>it's malfunctioning.
>
>Dave
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Fred Facker [mailtoemail redacted)]
> >Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2004 12:25 PM
> >To: 'Mustang List-serv'
> >Subject: [CM] This backfiring is killing me
> >
> >For those following the saga, I replaced my intake
> >manifold gaskets on my 66 289 C-code with 600 cfm
> >Holley 4150 and c4 transmission on Sunday and have
> >been attempting to get my car to run since then.
> >
> >Monday night after refinding TDC and retabbing the
> >carburetor several times, I still could not get the
> >car to start. It was backfiring and shooting flames
> >out of the carburetor.
> >
> >I didn't get a chance to work on it Tuesday, but last
> >night I retarded the timing and started advancing it a
> >little at a time until the car started. No backfires
> >all night. I then set the timing with a timing light,
> >the motor felt strong, but the transmission wasn't
> >quite shifting correctly. It was like it didn't want
> >to go back down to first when I stopped or it was
> >skipping out of first too soon and going to third too
> >late or something. Anyway, it ran, which was good
> >because it's my only car.
> >
> >This morning I started the car to come to work. It
> >fired right up on the first turn of the key, but it
> >was idling super fast. I gave it a little gas, and
> >that kicked the idle down quite a bit. However, I then
> >pulled out of the driveway and it died in the street.
> >When I tried to restart it, I got backfires out of the
> >carburetor. I tinkered with the timing for about 30
> >minutes trying to get it to restart before I gave up
> >and called some guys from my office to come help me
> >push it back up the driveway and give me a ride to
> >work.
> >
> >All I can figure is I've got a big vacuum leak
> >somewhere, but where? It's new carb with new gaskets.
> >The carb only has three vacuum outlets. One is going
> >to my PCV, one is going to the distributor and one is
> >plugged. On the back of the manifold I've rechecked
> >the metal line to the tranny to make sure it's tight
> >and replaced the rubber vacuum line that runs from it
> >to the metal line that goes down to the transmission.
> >Is there anything else I could be missing?
> >_______________________________________________
> >Classic-mustangs mailing list
> >(email redacted)
> >lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>
>_______________________________________________
>Classic-mustangs mailing list
>(email redacted)
>lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs

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