Trouble With a 70 Starting

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Dec 12, 2016 | 05:08 PM

#16

Tedster9

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 19,311

Likes: 97

From: Waterloo, Iowa

I was gonna say, that condenser looks a whole lot like the el-cheapo Chinee condensers that everybody sells these days, even the rebuilders. If you're going to run points do yourself a favor and buy good old school NOS Autolite points AND condenser made back when points were still being made. They don't cost that much more but they will last. Motorcraft even still offers them too, though I don't know how good they are anymore.

Take the time to figure out what the advance curve is on the rebuilt distributor and recurve for your application, it is very likely not setup correct.

This makes a huge difference on how well the engine will run, and fuel economy. There is damn near magic in those .20c springs and weights and vacuum advance. Lots of folks will bolt expensive intake and carbs on and the rest of it but leave all kinds of performance on the table.

Dec 12, 2016 | 05:51 PM

#17

orich

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,592

Likes: 10

From: **** hole San Jose ca.

We've all dropped the ball now an then when ya over think a problem.

So now what was that black mark??

And hope you move the points wire away from the housing.

Thanks for the feed back so we will all know your now go to go

So now you know how to trouble shoot by checking for any loose wires an all connection first.

Orich

Dec 12, 2016 | 10:05 PM

#18

OrangeBeast

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 161

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedster9

If you're going to run points do yourself a favor and buy good old school NOS Autolite points AND condenser made back when points were still being made. They don't cost that much more but they will last. Motorcraft even still offers them too, though I don't know how good they are anymore.

That is good advice and I am definitely going to look around for a few sets. I am running points in my 65 too so I will take care of that one also. I believe that has chinese junk in it too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedster9

Take the time to figure out what the advance curve is on the rebuilt distributor, it may not be setup for that engine. This makes a huge difference on how well the enginenwill run, and fuel economy.

I haven't been on the site in a couple years, but I believe that is notated by a number and the letter "L" or something like that? I need to go back and do a forum search on the subject.

Quote:

Originally Posted by orich

So now what was that black mark??

And hope you move the points wire away from the housing.

It looked like paint pen. It was in a couple other spots no where near wires and it scratched off and looked like paint when it flaked off. I checked the underside of the wire and it didn't appear to have rubbed off or melted in that spot.

I did make sure the wires were away from the housing when I put everything back together. Since I had the bolt loose on the points for the condenser wire I was able to adjust the angle of the connecters so the wire was more elevated, but not in the way of the rotor.

Dec 12, 2016 | 10:12 PM

#19

orich

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,592

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From: **** hole San Jose ca.

Okay thank your son for him to be taking part of watching over all of us in this country.
and, I speak for all the rest of the vets on here.

Glad we could help getting his rig going again for him.
Orich

Dec 13, 2016 | 12:32 AM

#20

OrangeBeast

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 161

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Thank you for the kind words orich. I will definitely let him know you thanked him for his service and were instrumental in getting his dear old dad squared away. We are heading out to San Diego tomorrow to meet the DIs at dinner on Wednesday. Family day is on Thursday and graduation is on Friday. We are going and do a little touristing for a few days afterwards and spend some time with him before coming home.

Dec 13, 2016 | 07:16 AM

#21

TeachNlive4ever

Cargo Master

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 2,350

Likes: 7

From: Garland, Tx

Look into the Pertronix electronic ign. Points will be a thing of the past for you. I've have em on my 69 for 20 years and haven't touch em sense.

Dec 14, 2016 | 02:01 AM

#22

GaryKip

Logistics Pro

Joined: Aug 2015

Posts: 4,093

Likes: 14

From: Lind, WA- Eastern WA

I was going to say that the condenser in the picture, has a dent in it, and since there's little spare room inside, you should replace it. But I'm glad you found the problem. I switched over to the electronic module (like Pertronix) no more adjustments or problems. Jeffaffa, add another bad one to the condenser tally.

Dec 14, 2016 | 03:51 PM

#23

JEFFFAFA

Hotshot

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 14,255

Likes: 199

From: Phoenix, Az.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeBeast

This was one of the first things I did when I was ruling out the carb, but thank you for the suggestion.

QFT = Quick Fuel Technologies - Holley 4150 clone

I found the problem. When I was moving the condenser wire away from the housing, the wire fell out of the condenser even though it shows in the picture that it is still connected to the condenser. I replaced the condenser and the truck fired right up. Now I just need to get everything reset, run it through emissions, renew the tags and it will be ready for my son when he gets back.

Thank you everyone who helped me out on this one, especially you orich. Reps all around as the system lets me. I do feel stupid for not just changing this at the beginning along with the points.

There we have it. That makes bad condenser #1,785,644.