Ford 400 stopped running..
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Ford 400 stopped running..
So today i finally got the truck road legal. drove it for 15 miles or so and it just dies. so i pull of to the side of the road and try to start it. it turns over fine but almost seems like the timing is way off but the distributer never moved. I put an aftermarket elec ignition if that helps. it turns over just shoots out of the carb.
Any help? thanks! Dave
Any help? thanks! Dave
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,595
Likes: 5
From: Pasadena, Ca
I can tell you right now, "it just shoots out the carb", is not going to get you any help.
I know things are frustrating, but more practical info is needed to get this fixed.
Remember, anything that can break, can get fixed. Take a minute to detail a bit of back story and all will work out...
I know things are frustrating, but more practical info is needed to get this fixed.
Remember, anything that can break, can get fixed. Take a minute to detail a bit of back story and all will work out...
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
okay. Well i guess a better way to explain it is it never seems to fire just every rotation or so it seems like it will backfire out of the carburetor almost. and i checked the spark and it has spark
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Intake backfire is usually a severe lean condition (choke open on a cold start) or timing way off. If you just put an electronic ignition setup on it, then you surely were inside the distributor. What was on there before, what specifically is on there now, and what was changed? As JKLNHYD describes, the efficacy of the help you receive is directly proportional to the amount of detail you provide.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Sorry about that. Ya the truck originally came with the electronic ignition with the box on the fender well. i took that off and replaced the distributer with a points-style distributer and put the pertronix ignition on there. ive had that ignition on there for a few months and this is the first time its acted up. if it helps the truck has been starting hard also.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Out of curiosity, why go from the stock setup to Pertronix fitted to a points distributor? It's the exact same firing technology. Any horror stories you might hear about the stock setup is simply due to cheap folks trying to buy the $30 modules. It seems you've done a lot of work for no benefit, and now you've got these variables that may or may not be contributing to the problem.
Check to make sure that the Pertronix module is still fixed to the breaker plate.
Check to make sure that the Pertronix module is still fixed to the breaker plate.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
i went through three modules just driving the truck around the yard.. im towards the end of a frame up restoration on the truck and had to change the distibuter anyways so i went to the points style. i just checked the valves and they are all opening and closing correctly. if it helps this morning i tried turning the truck over and it didnt backfire out of the carb then i pumped the gas once and it started doing it again. and the module is still in place. i just rechecked the gap too and it has good spark
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Okay so i tried putting a different carb on there which i knew ran good when taken out and it did the exact same thing. its definetly getting gas it almost acts like the motor is turning around backwards. seems like its getting backpressure in the intake. just about everytime i try to start the thing i get a carb fire. wouldnt it have to be timing? i tried pulling the distributer and looked at that gear and looked down on the cam gear and there both good. could it have skipped a timing chain? all the valves are working correctly also.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 506
From: Pa.
You,ll only be able to check if the chain jumped with the timing cover off or with a piston stop to determine Top dead center .. It certainly sounds like the timing is off either by the distributor being installed one off or the timing chain jumped or the harmonic balancer has spun making your marks off .. Also check your spark plug wires to insure they are on the cap in the right places
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
the balancer didnt jump and the distributer was installed correctly because the truck ran great then it just all of a sudden died. But how could a new timing chain jump like that? the sprocket, chain and cam are all new from comp cams. The chain was very tight when i installed it and i was not beating on the motor when this occurred
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
With the dizzy cap off, rock the engine back and forth with a socket or by hand.
See how far it turns before the rotor cap just starts to move. This will give
an Idea how much play is in the timing chain. I also think it has jumped time. Was ya getting on it when it quit?
See how far it turns before the rotor cap just starts to move. This will give
an Idea how much play is in the timing chain. I also think it has jumped time. Was ya getting on it when it quit?