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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

460 big block help

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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 12:54 PM
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460 big block help

I got a 460 that won't stay Runing and if I hold my foot just right she will run sounds bad and if I put her in gear she won't move and won't even try to. I've check the cap and rotor and the plugs and wires all is good and its shooting gas and fuel thu the carb. What is doing this? And what can I so to fix it?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:14 PM
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Won't move when you put it into gear? That sounds like a transmission problem correct? What year truck is this? What model is it? What tranny do you have?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:16 PM
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86 F350 right? Auto trans?

Will it run well when you run the rpms up and just not idle? Do you have to hold the throttle open while you start it? How do you know the cap and rotor are fine?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:39 PM
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The truck is a 1986 f350 but the motor is a late 70s 460 and is a automatic 4x4 and just a small amount of throttle to much and it dies or shoots gas and flames out of the carb


It run good intill one night she started to run out of fuel and then this started..... this is not the first time it has run out of gas.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:56 PM
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So it idles fine?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:57 PM
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Sounds to me like there is a flooding/timing issue. Was the carburetor ever left sitting dry and, if so, for how long? The flame shooting out the carb sounds like your intake valve is open when it's firing.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:02 PM
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No as soon as I let off of the throttle it dies.


No it as never been bone dried
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:37 PM
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What is your timing set at?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:51 PM
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Right now I don't know and I turly don't know how to find that out? I'm just leaning automotive lol
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:57 PM
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You'll need to get a timing light (or get one from someone that has one) and check your timing on the balancer. There should be a tab and degree markings. You'll put the induction clamp on No. 1 spark plug wire and ground to the battery. Start the truck (you'll need someone to help with this to keep it running in your situation) and point the light toward the balancer. You should see the degree marks in the strobe. The mark the tab is above is your degree of advance or retardation. usually you'll look for somewhere between 6-10 degrees BTDC (Before Top Dead Center). Also, remember the engines rotate counter clockwise so BTDC will be to the right of the tab. I'm not sure if I explained this well enough. I'm sure someone will help me out.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 04:48 PM
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This sounds definitely like a timing issue.

Backfiring through the carburetor can be caused by a burnt up intake valve, ignition timing advanced too much, and sticking/stuck open valves.

How To Guide: Adjusting Ignition Timing - YouTube
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 06:02 PM
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Back-firing back up through the carb can simply be caused by a lean condition, caused by either not enough fuel or a cold engine that doesn't have a working choke. I suspect carb problems, letting it run out of gas has probably stirred up a bunch of dirt and it has gotten in the carb.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 07:09 PM
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how do i rule out a sticking/stuck open valves and the carb?

ill check the timing this weekend..

could the timing chain cause this?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 08:15 PM
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Yes. Timing chain could have something to do with it. Too much slack in the chain could throw the timing off. Take the timing cover off and check the chain. I kind of doubt that's the issue but it couldnt hurt to check. I think Franklin has the right of it. I built the carb on my 460 twice before it would run correctly. I'm guessing you still have the stock carb on. It can be quite the pain to rebuild but it is quite possible. From what you're describing it could be any number of things from timing to bad valves to a fouled carb. It'll take some troubleshooting to get to the root of the matter. Welcome to being a mechanic.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2011 | 08:42 PM
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You can do a leak-down test to see if the valves are causing problems or not.

How to do Cylinder Leak Down Testing- Car Craft Magazine
 
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