223 spark plug woes

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May 25, 2014 | 10:51 AM

1948 F1dude

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 279

Likes: 3

From: North Port Fl.

223 spark plug woes

I am trying to get my '48 running smooth and am at a point that I don't know what to do next. I put in new Autolites #46 and # 3 & 4 sparkplug is black with soot. Since Friday I have put in two sets of plugs I adjusted valves and new set Fri. ran good. Took it out on highway and ran good except a surge . Next day ran like dookie . Talking with one of the guys in my club and he suggested check rotor and cap . This morning I put new wires cap rotor plugs(gap 35) checked valves again, drove the truck two miles and pulled #3 &4 plugs and they are black. Truck ran good but still have the black plug. I am using Petronic as the points kept burning up after 200 miles. The only thing I can not do is timing. I plan on taking to a shop tomorrow. Any clues? Am I missing something? '62 223 with '58 head new distributor

May 25, 2014 | 11:20 AM

tinman52

Welder User

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 5,269

Likes: 50

From: northwest MT

Are the plugs getting fouled with oil? Or smell like gas?
Have you tested the compression? Also could be running too rich as those 2 plugs are closest to the carb...

May 25, 2014 | 01:52 PM

rpaxton939

Tuned

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 325

Likes: 33

From: Florida

Dude....my book shows the plugs to have a gap of .025 to .029. Maybe your gap is too big.

May 25, 2014 | 02:25 PM

1948 F1dude

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 279

Likes: 3

From: North Port Fl.

I think I found the problem. I had the carb too rich like Tinman52 suggested

May 25, 2014 | 04:22 PM

ALBUQ F-1

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 27,294

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From: NM

I'd close the gaps to no more than 030". Otherwise it puts a load on the coil & Pertronix. No advantage to a big gap.

May 26, 2014 | 09:11 AM

38 coupe

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 2,927

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From: Houston

If you have the stock distributor with points you can time the engine without a timing light:
1. Note where #1 is on your distributor cap then remove it.
2. Manually spin the engine over (turn the fan or put a socket on the crank bolt) until the rotor is pointing near where #1 on the distributor cap was.
3. Look at the crank pulley, you should be somewhat close to the timing marks. Turn the crank to align the timing mark of your choice (I think about 5 degrees advance is a great starting place).
4. Loosen the hold down on your distributor. Retard the distributor and turn the ignition on.
5. Advance the distributor slowly until the points spark then lock the distributor down without moving it (I usually get to repeat the retard then advance a few times to make sure I have the distributor in the right spot).
6. Reinstall the distributor cap.

Congratulations, you have timed your ignition.