Hello all, having some problems after my rebuild. It's a '77 f150 4x4 w/ 400 C6. Has CA emissions. Edelbrock timing chain set straight up. Edelbrock performer cam and lifters stock valve train. Edelbrock performer EGR intake and stock 2bbl carb. Upon first start up had a small tap but after the break-in period that disappeared. Idled fine after and I was able to fine tune the timing. All seemed well so I shut her down. I then reattached the A/C bracket and took a break for
about 2 hours. When I went to restart the truck it sounded like it had slipped out of time. Maybe missing on one or two cylinders and wouldn't idle. Not sure where to look first. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Is the timing still where you left it?

 

It was when I started it. I have since tried
tk advance the timing a bit with no luck

 

Hate to be negative but did you use proper breakin oil, treatment and procedure? It's really easy to wipe a cam with todays oils.

 

used rotella T and the breakin was 30 min between 2-2500 RPM no idling as per the camshafts recommendation. I could be wrong but if I had wiped the cam wouldn't it have been acting this way before it turned it off?

 

Did you check push rod length and lifter preload when you were putting it together ? When you started it back up it could have thrown or bent a pushrod or 2. Many a cams have wiped a lobe and been blamed for top end problems in fresh motors.

 

Had a similar thing happen to one on my friends engine. it wiped the distributor gear out.

 

Might you have jostled your distributor wiring when installing the AC bracket? If you're running the original distributor, Duraspark box, and harness, it's possible that the insulation has dry rotted and is crumbling and falling off, leading to short circuits.
Chased this problem for a few months on an '84 Capri RS 5.0, and finally narrowed it down when it happened immediately after an oil and filter change. Most of the time mine would stop running, but I think sometimes it would stay running, but like crap.

 

...It was out of gas...

Ill be able to get more into it tomorrow and see how it runs then

 

Talk about a best case scenario!

 

gheeez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If only every 'uh Oh', came down to something so simple...... Hey that's good news !

 

Yup. Put about 8 gallons in today and it started right up. Was able to get it timed pretty well, just need to adjust the carb now. Really glad it wasn't anything bad. I was really sweating it there for a second