'77 wont start the second time
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
'77 wont start the second time
I have a '77 F150 w/351 M that has just been through a bit of restoration. She fires right up, even during cold weather, but if I drive her from the shop to the house (about 50 yds), she won't fire back up for 30 min to a couple of hours. Will crank, but that's it. I'm getting gas to carb and put in a clear fuel filter below carb to keep eye on it...and I'm getting spark at coil. Won't fire on ether I can let her run for 15 min parked in shop, turn her off, and she'll fire right up, but if I drive for even a short distance, she won't fire (might just be coincidence). I have checked the sending unit, I have a tank w/out emissions evap line, have gas cap that vents..at a loss for what to do next. In 50 degree daily temps, I didn't figure anything could get warm enough to give me trouble in that direction (vapor lock, hot fuel line, hot wire, etc). Distributor maybe? Magnetic pickup in distributor? HEEELLLPPPP!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
Likes: 506
From: Pa.
During warm up while watching the choke open what does that look like ? Does it fully open ? Is the choke hooked up properly ?
What is the condition of the distributor cap ? If you have a spare known good distributor cap test put it in to test ? A cracked cap can have these symptoms ..
Take out the spark box and take it down to AutoZone and have it tested for free to eliminate that as possible issue ..
Is the EGR plate still on the vehicle ? If it is pull it and clean it and make sure the valve is functioning properly ..
How much vacuum does the motor pull at idle ? do you pull a constant reading or does the needle fluctuate ?
Post back with any questions or progress ..
What is the condition of the distributor cap ? If you have a spare known good distributor cap test put it in to test ? A cracked cap can have these symptoms ..
Take out the spark box and take it down to AutoZone and have it tested for free to eliminate that as possible issue ..
Is the EGR plate still on the vehicle ? If it is pull it and clean it and make sure the valve is functioning properly ..
How much vacuum does the motor pull at idle ? do you pull a constant reading or does the needle fluctuate ?
Post back with any questions or progress ..
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, Il
Had a similar problem. Would run then shut off while driving. Wouldn't restart for a few minutes. I changed the points capacitor. Problem solved. Weird, may fix it may not but it's only $5 to try if your still running points.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
Thanks for the pointers! I'm about ready to head up to the shop and switch dist caps. Choke hooked up and operating correctly. Spark box test is good. If dist still doesn't fix it, I'll check pressure.
Thanks again for all the help! I'll keep y'all posted!
Thanks again for all the help! I'll keep y'all posted!
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
new cap on dist and new magnetic pickup. So far, so good. Old dist cap had a good bit of metalic dust inside, but no visible cracks. Rotor was thirsty for some lube. Busy week this week with lots of catering gigs. Will be able to test more this weekend.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
tested spark box 25 times at autozone, to build up heat so reading would be accurate, but box never became close to being warm..thought that was kind of strange, so I bought a new box and put it on. One large chunk Of info I didn't say earlier is that she runs waaaaay rich!! I smell like a fuel depo when I get out of my truck. Carb is aftermarket Holley 4bbl. Still haven't had much time to drive truck to test, but will tomorrow
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 329
Likes: 4
From: Deer park, Wa.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
I'll check float levels when I get home. Was talking to my friend who rebuilt and installed engine...he said timing was still off, but he couldn't get it to fire unless timing was a bit off....he hates holley carbs, so he replaced it with an old edelbrock and still had no luck. He put my holley back on and adjusted the timing a bit out so it will start. Could it have been that both carbs are out of whack? It runs great, but as I said it runs real, real rich and blows darker exhaust out of driver side exhaust pipe. I can start it a million times in my shop, get the engine warm, and it will still fire, but if I drive it just the shortest distance (50 yds even), I can't start it for 30min-1hr. When I do drive it out of shop, I go down a steep hill, don't know if that throws a wrench into anything or not.
Thanks again for all of your help!
Thanks again for all of your help!
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
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
From: Caledon ON
I would look at the floats being too high and dumping fuel down the throttle bores and flooding the engine. Do you have any signs of fuel staining on the intake below the carb? Holley's are not good carbs for these trucks due to the floats being at either end of the carb. A carb with center hung floats are much better for a vehicle that bounces a lot.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eggleston, Va
Did a quick cleaning of carb, and ran some seafoam through the gas. Seemed to help a good bit with the richness..and the problem has seemed to lessen a good bit, but I don't know if that's because I got lucky, or if its because its 20 degrees outside. Coil and fuel filter get hot to touch, but you can still get away touching them without a good burn. A good bit of vapor/smoke comes out of breather cap when it won't start and I'm trying to crank it. It will start no problem if I wait no more than 1 min between starts, but if I let it sit for 30 min, it gives trouble.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 426
Likes: 1
From: Caledon ON
The staining will be on the outside just below the throttle shafts. In a very high float condition fuel will leak out of the venturies and drip down onto the throttle shafts and will seep out the sides and leave staining on the intake below them.
I think you have either high float settings or an internal carb leak causing the engine to flood when its shut off. The having to wait a half hour or more to restart it is the time it takes to evaporate the extra fuel.
Also, you said the fuel filter is hot? Where do you have it routed? If you have an inline filter on a rubber line and its laying on the water pump or intake you could be boiling the fuel in the filter causing vapor lock.
I think you have either high float settings or an internal carb leak causing the engine to flood when its shut off. The having to wait a half hour or more to restart it is the time it takes to evaporate the extra fuel.
Also, you said the fuel filter is hot? Where do you have it routed? If you have an inline filter on a rubber line and its laying on the water pump or intake you could be boiling the fuel in the filter causing vapor lock.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lowridaz22
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
3
Nov 8, 2015 11:11 PM
WALFORD'S 56
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
18
Nov 5, 2009 11:11 AM
classicfordluvr
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
3
Mar 20, 2001 05:24 PM