| pauls36fordor | -- 03-28-2019 @ 3:38 PM |
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During the winter I changed spark plug wires and distributor terminal plate on my 36 Ford. After I finished I started it up and she ran fine. Purred like a kitten. No misses no backfires. As weather turned warm I took it out of the garage for the first time and while it ran fine, that is to say no missing or backfiring, I had no power. I wrote on this once before and someone suggested dirty carb. So I am in the process of replacing the carb and fuel pump while I'm at it, but it just occurred to me that I hadn't test drove it after change the distributor terminal plate. Is there anything electrical that could cause power loss? I double checked the distributor cap to make sure the little notches lined up properly. And again there is no missing or backfire.
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| carcrazy | -- 03-28-2019 @ 4:13 PM |
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If the vehicle has been dormant for awhile, rodents or other vermin may have set up home or made nests in the air cleaner or exhaust system. This could reduce the flow of air through the engine so that it will still idle smoothly but not provide any power. The ignition timing could be off due to contact of the mechanical spark advance mechanisim with a too-long screw contacting the weights or arms. Use of a vacuum gauge will help you pinpoint the problem.
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| TomO | -- 03-28-2019 @ 4:44 PM |
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Do a cylinder balance test by shorting out one plug at a time with a screwdriver contacting the plug wire and a head nut. The engine should slow down when the plug is shorted and resume speed when not shorted. Make a list of any plugs that do not slow down the engine. Tom
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| supereal | -- 04-01-2019 @ 8:34 AM |
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If you installed the carbon fiber wires instead of the metallic version, you may have one or more contact problems at one end or both of the wires. We solder the clips at both ends of the metallic wires, as a poor contacts will affect both starting and power.
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| pauls36fordor | -- 04-01-2019 @ 12:02 PM |
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Excellent advise from all thank you. I bought the plug wires from Obsolete and I'm not sure if they were carbon or metallic. I just assumed metallic. I will check that. The ones in their catalog are color coded but what I received were all black. I don't think I have a rodent issue so I'll do the plug short test and vacuum test. Thanks again.
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| pauls39coupe | -- 04-01-2019 @ 12:37 PM |
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Always go back to the last thing you did. I would look for crossed plug wires either at the cap or the plug end. You can have two switched that are close together both would be out of time killing the power but not necessarily producing a backfire. Do the cylinder short out check to see if any of the plugs are not producing power. This message was edited by pauls39coupe on 4-1-19 @ 12:38 PM
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| supereal | -- 04-14-2019 @ 10:48 AM |
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Check or replace the ignition condenser. If it is open, the engine power will be seriously reduced. This is due to the coil not being drained and saturated between firing cycles. An open condenser will also drastically reduce point life. We have found many inferior "new" condensers now being sold. If you are doing a tuneup, and the engine has been working well, reuse the condenser.
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