I have a 72 F350 with a 360 FE. On my way home it started running real bad when a started off from a red light. Its back firing and loosening power. I drove it on home and it would smooth out some if you pressed the pedal all the way to the floor for a min or two. I've checked all the basic stuff. Plugs, wires ,and points. Coil I even put a vacuum gauge on it and it checked perfect... I'm at a loss, I Dont know what else to check.... I also checked the gas to make sure there was no water/ trash. Looked good... and it has a brand new carb on it also.... anyone can help it would be great

 

Welcome to FTE!
What happened just prior to this happening? Just get gas or something? Why the new carb recently?

 

Check the vacuum advance/timing.

 

I put a new carb on when I bought the truck about 6 mos. Ago.... the alternator went out and I put a new one on that morning... but that was it... I stopped at the red light running good, started off from the red light running like crap

 

Check all your wiring connections under the hood.

 

I'll check that this morning. I thought maybe jumped time but I can turn the crank by hand and the rotor button doesn't seem to have any delay between my turning and it turning

 

Check Dizzy to be loose and timing changed.
Check battery voltage and alternator output. New alternator could be bad and truck running out of battery power.

 

Power out put looks good... I just poped the dist cap off again to make sure and when I turn the fan to the right its good with no delay, BUT, when I switch directions back to the left there is about a 2-3 degree lag before it gets tight... so, maybe jumped time??

 

Possible but i've seen worse than 2-3 that hadn't jumped. I suggest to check it bring it around to TDC. Pull #1 plug. Piston should be at the top of it's stroke if chain has NOT jumped. Have a buddy stick something in the spark plug hole to feel top of the piston. Slowly spin the engine 5-10 degrees in both directions from TDC. By doing this if you can get the piston to go up higher in the cylinder than TDC than the chain has slipped.
Good Luck.

 

OK, so I pulled #1 to the top... trimming is dead on.... truck fires right up hot or cold, just runs like crap when you give it gas... on out of ideas, if the coil was bad I Dont think it would crank hot... and the truck ideals perfect....I'm lost

 

Well, off idle we need more timing and more fuel.
Timing:
1.check vacuum advance to be good
2.check Dizzy points breaker plate to not be tilted and pivot smooth
3.if still points,check dwell to be 30 degrees at idle. Then try to rev it and see if dwell changes more than 2 degrees when it starts to fall on it's face.
4. for giggles you might change the condensor. They are cheap.

FUEL:
1.Check fuel pump to have about 5-6 pounds of pressure if mechanical.
2.check to see if a rubber vacuum nipple cap came off a venturi vacuum port nipple on the carb. (vacuum leak off idle)