Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Engine power loss

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: Engine power loss -- page: 1 2

Dustbowl

02-04-2021 @ 4:10 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Feb 2011

My 1936 Cabriolet has been running very well. Then on a trip home, it lost power going up a steep hill and I barely made it home. The next day, it seemed to start and run well going downhill and on the level to my nearby destination. But coming home uphill it lost power again to the extent I had to be towed home. Something also must have discharged the battery as it would not turn the starter motor.
Today it is the same problem going uphill out of the drive way, after I recharged the battery. It will start and idle but loose power as I try to pull away. While the engine was idling, I check and found a strong spark at one plug - spark jumps about one centimeter.

I also tried temporarily to by pass the ignition resistor but that made no difference.

I suspect several different issues could be causing my problem. Would you please suggest things I can look for. Thanks

carcrazy

02-04-2021 @ 5:11 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1653
Joined: Oct 2009

Losing power while climbing a hill is a classic symptom of lack of fuel. I suspect either your fuel pump is going bad or you are experiencing vapor lock. Is the engine running too hot when you experience these problems? Your battery may be at the end of its life, have it checked and replace it if required.

TomO

02-05-2021 @ 7:30 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009

A quick check for insufficient fuel is to pull out the choke half way. If the engine runs better, then do a fuel delivery test.

Insufficient fuel delivery can be caused by vacuum leak on the fuel supply to the fuel pump (leaking flex hose, sediment bowl gasket or loose connection are the most common causes of this condition), plugged fuel line (internal rust, collapsed flex line, debris in the tank), weak fuel pump or incorrect gas cap.

To check fuel delivery, you need a graduated 16 ounce or larger container to determine the amount of
fuel delivered in a measured time. Disconnect the fuel pump line from the carburetor and direct it into
a graduated container. Crank the engine long enough to get 2 ounces of gas in the container and then
continue cranking for 15 more strokes of the pump. The pump should have delivered 6 more ounces of
gas.

If you are getting the correct amount of fuel, then you should perform a cylinder balance test by shorting out one plug at a time and notice if there is a change in RPM. If you find cylinders that do not change the RPM, they are your problem. Remove the plugs from those cylinders to see why they are not firing.

http://www.verrill.com/moto/sellingguide/sparkplugs/plugcolorchart.htm

Good luck and please come back with the results.

Tom

02-05-2021 @ 12:02 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1254
Joined: Nov 2009

"lost power going up a steep hill" ...."coming home uphill it lost power again"...."Today it is the same problem going uphill"....

Consider it might be Clutch Slippage....

Dustbowl

02-05-2021 @ 1:19 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Feb 2011

Well, I thought I had a simple fix with help from both of you.

First , with Tom's suggestion, I pulled out the choke (a!! the way) and found that engine went from a little rough (and no power) to smooth and faster. So a gas problem I assumed..

Then I tested fuel flow and found it at least as fast as Tom suggested.

Then I took oil the top section of the carb and found the gas level in the carb reservoir to be low when it should have been full. The float adjustment seemed to be correct so I guessed the intake valve was sticking and I replaced it.

Expecting success, I then found the engine running rough with no power!!!

When the carb was opened, it looked to be clean inside but, of course, I could have a passage blocked.

Before I rebuilt the carb, I want to ask you if you can think of anything other than the carb which could be causing my problem

I stiil.have a strong spark and the battery is fully charged.

I have speculated that ignition timing may have gone bad but that doesn't explain the choke test results. I hate to mess with timing unless I am confident that is source of problem

Any suggestions very welcome.

37RAGTOPMAN

02-05-2021 @ 2:54 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1958
Joined: Oct 2009

HI Dustbowl
this a long shot, do you have a electric fuel pump ?

I assume the gas cap is vented,
you could blow out your fuel lines to make sure there is no blockage, front to rear,
how old is the front to rear fuel line, has it been replaced when car was restored,
and check the fuel pump. remove the top cover to see if you have a build up of dirt
I would suspect a fuel problem
how is the flex line ? is it fairly new,?
this new gas could cause problems with the old flex lines, swelling it up on the inside or maybe it is breaking up
leaving particles of small rubber in the fuel lines,
this is also true with the fuel pump diaphragm, these also break up , if you have a fuel pump tester see what it tell you,
and idf you do not have one,
I would take the fuel pump off holding it in my hand with the fuel line attached and work the pump and see if it pumps a steady stream of fuel into a container,
maybe you can add some more description let us know so we can solve your problem 37Ragtopman
hope this helps
check the line from the fuel pump to carb,

Dustbowl

02-05-2021 @ 3:28 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Feb 2011

As I explained in my most recent post, I tested flow rate that pump puts out and found it as good or better than Tom suggests. So I don't thing enough fuel getting to my carb is the problem.

Dustbowl

02-05-2021 @ 3:30 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Feb 2011

But I will now go out and double check fuel pump out put pressure. I think it should be 5 psi or more.

51woodie

02-05-2021 @ 3:50 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 510
Joined: Jan 2017

Could be wrong, but I believe that the fuel pressure should be 2-3 psi.

TomO

02-06-2021 @ 7:45 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009

Do you have the stromberg cab on the car? If you do, explain your problem to Uncle Max. He specializes in the Stromberg carbs. http://97-express.com/contact/

Did you run the engine and then take off the top of the carb to check the level? You need to do this to find out if your carb is leaking down or the float level is incorrect.

Fuel pump pressure should 2-3psi. Any higher will overcome the float and you will have flooding. You will have to disassemble the fuel pump if the pressure is too high and adjust the return spring pressure. If it is too low, I suggest that you have your fuel pump rebuilt.

Tom

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions