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mountain dewd the 2 long standing, unwritten, but very true rules of this forum, especially for this thread...ARE "Pics or it did not happen" and "this thread is worthless/useless without pics". lol Jk
Thanks for the well wishes 77. Not feeling much better today but no worse. Been awake since 1AM but it has given me plenty of time to get the truck ready. Today I:
Tore engine completely down
Bagged and tagged everything
Degreased all parts.
I have to tell y'all something. It is HARD to kill a 360. This engine ran pretty damned well when I tore her down. It was only when I pulled the pan did I realize what this engine had been through. EVERY LAST piston ring was broken. Wiped cam and lifter and a wrist pin retainer was gone, broken in the pan.
Truck has been idling a bit rough, and I had raised the idle speed to keep it running at stop signs. Decided to take a look at the idle mixture...
The driver side was 1-1/2 turns out, but the passenger side was only 1/2 turn out. Set them both at baseline (1-1/2 turns out) and the idle smoothed right out. Was even able to lower the idle speed
Took it for a drive, and the slight hesitation on acceleration was still there. Re-set the ignition timing, and was able to lower the idle speed a bit more.
Took it for another drive, and the truck is much happier
There's a standard procedure for setting idle mixture and dealing with hesitation?
There's a standard procedure for setting idle mixture and dealing with hesitation?
I don't know how standard it is!
Holley says the idle mixture screws are "set acceptably well out of the box", and I guess they were, as the truck did run.
I'm not sure when the screws became "out of adjustment", as I don't recall messing when them. However, I had the carb off for the engine pull, and they may have been affected.
I had done a lot of searching on idle mixture yesterday. Seems to be a lot of confusion about how many "turns out". A lot of guys say 1-1/2, and other guys say "around 5". I think the difference is whether its a Holley 4050/4160 or a MotorCraft 2100. Holley is pretty adamant that 1-1/2 turns is a good starting point. I went as far as three out to 1/2 out, and saw very little difference in vacuum. But at "full-in", the truck came close to dying before I returned the screws to 1-1/2 out. The vacuum didn't change but maybe +/- 1/2", but the smoothness changed a lot.
Since I was able to lower the idle speed, I broke out the distributor wrench and timing light and re-set the distributor to spec. The hesitation on acceleration seems to be diminished, but not entirely gone.
I was sure that a HF engine stand would not hold a 460. I was right, it wont. Oh well, I did get the motor out and getting another stand here soon so I can use the cherry picker for lifting the bed.
I was sure that a HF engine stand would not hold a 460. I was right, it wont. Oh well, I did get the motor out and getting another stand here soon so I can use the cherry picker for lifting the bed.
Holley says the idle mixture screws are "set acceptably well out of the box", and I guess they were, as the truck did run.
I'm not sure when the screws became "out of adjustment", as I don't recall messing when them. However, I had the carb off for the engine pull, and they may have been affected.
I had done a lot of searching on idle mixture yesterday. Seems to be a lot of confusion about how many "turns out". A lot of guys say 1-1/2, and other guys say "around 5". I think the difference is whether its a Holley 4050/4160 or a MotorCraft 2100. Holley is pretty adamant that 1-1/2 turns is a good starting point. I went as far as three out to 1/2 out, and saw very little difference in vacuum. But at "full-in", the truck came close to dying before I returned the screws to 1-1/2 out. The vacuum didn't change but maybe +/- 1/2", but the smoothness changed a lot.
Since I was able to lower the idle speed, I broke out the distributor wrench and timing light and re-set the distributor to spec. The hesitation on acceleration seems to be diminished, but not entirely gone.
Now you've made me curious as to how you've got your vacuum line plumbed in.
Guessing you take vacuum directly off of the intake manifold at the back T-fitting?
Today ..... I got up and went to meet a buddy for coffee .... and after a couple hours, I was back home looking at weather and planning the week and decided to take the '77 out for a load of wood pellets. Like last year ..... I let the guy slide the whole pallet in and then used a extra pallet to push them to the front. She come home with no complaints again, it's like a rise in altitude of 900 feet from the Co-Op to home in 14 miles.
I measured the bed sides again ..... she still holds a ton without drooping in back.
This pic was taken last year but today I measured the top of bed sides to a smooth concrete carport floor before unloading.
Pretty proud of my old '78 today. Since yesterday, I've driven over 350 mile (all highway at 70mph) with no problems what-so-ever. Everyone thought for sure that I would have broken down. You just can't beat old iron.
Pretty proud of my old '78 today. Since yesterday, I've driven over 350 mile (all highway at 70mph) with no problems what-so-ever. Everyone thought for sure that I would have broken down. You just can't beat old iron. g
Must have been a special trip ..... I figure about 38 gallons used? Mine just seems happiest at 65 ... or 63.
Yes, definitely a great place to shop for old trucks. I put a deposit on this truck. As soon as the transaction is complete, I will give a shoutout to the dealer (if forum rules allow). I have every reason to believe that I will be very happy with the purchase.
12-04-2016, 08:33 PM
