Installing new distributor timing.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
Installing new distributor timing.
Hey fellas. So far I think is coming along pretty good. Got the 400 out and got the 429 in with the headers attached yata yata.
Now I've put a new intake manifold on the engine and stole the newer distributor off the 400. And starting from scratch I've got to set the whole works. Now I need to ask you guys if I've don't this right.
I've gotten the number one cylinder to TDS on the compression stroke I believe. Ballancer reading at zero. Then I turned it back 12° advanced on the needle. Then I dropped the distributor in with the rotor lined up with the number one terminal.
Things to note I do not have a starter connected at this time and I've been turning the engine with a ratchet on the crank. Was fairly easy to turn and so I chose to turn back 12° instead of come back round again, don't know if that was wrong.. seemed too simple and I figure I made a mistake.
Now I've put a new intake manifold on the engine and stole the newer distributor off the 400. And starting from scratch I've got to set the whole works. Now I need to ask you guys if I've don't this right.
I've gotten the number one cylinder to TDS on the compression stroke I believe. Ballancer reading at zero. Then I turned it back 12° advanced on the needle. Then I dropped the distributor in with the rotor lined up with the number one terminal.
Things to note I do not have a starter connected at this time and I've been turning the engine with a ratchet on the crank. Was fairly easy to turn and so I chose to turn back 12° instead of come back round again, don't know if that was wrong.. seemed too simple and I figure I made a mistake.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 256
Likes: 30
From: San Jose, CA
If its still not working, you are likely on the wrong stroke. Could be 90 or 180 degrees. Find TDC manually and see where your distributor is pointing. If its 180 degrees off of being near cylinder 1 and its still not working you're likely 180 off. If you're nowhere near where it should be you'll have to manually adjust the distributors position.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
Thanks fellas. I plan to actually start the truck this weekend. But after I get the new starter on it and I have a helper I'll do the thumb on the hole thing to double check the stroke. You guys have been a great help throughout this project.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 26
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Well good news. After a little wiring mix-up she fired right up (thank God I took videos of the wiring).
It seems super smooth. Except
-1 Turing over shoots a flame out sometimes before getting it to start. If I give it a few squirts down the carb from a bottle then I don't get the flame and it runs pretty noice
-2 Can't get the thing to idle for more than 10 seconds to on its own.
Doesn't appear to run rough in my amateur opinion so I didn't think it was a timing issue but more of a lean mixture issue.
The carburetor is brand new and so is the intake and I hadn't made any adjustments.
It seems super smooth. Except
-1 Turing over shoots a flame out sometimes before getting it to start. If I give it a few squirts down the carb from a bottle then I don't get the flame and it runs pretty noice
-2 Can't get the thing to idle for more than 10 seconds to on its own.
Doesn't appear to run rough in my amateur opinion so I didn't think it was a timing issue but more of a lean mixture issue.
The carburetor is brand new and so is the intake and I hadn't made any adjustments.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,541
Likes: 2,664
From: Near Salt Lake City
When cold if too lean backfire through the carb is normal or okay
Make sure you have no vacuum leaks
Baseplate gaskets and plate if equipped
If carbed the choke needs to be tight (in spec) and the pull off needs to work
Trying to determine exactly what you are driving so I can give coherent advice
An old car 429 with a autolite 4bbl in your truck? Great!
Those old ones need some fuel
Remember the old blue oil filter housing that stuck on the side of the air cleaner on those old 429-460's?.
Make sure you have no vacuum leaks
Baseplate gaskets and plate if equipped
If carbed the choke needs to be tight (in spec) and the pull off needs to work
Trying to determine exactly what you are driving so I can give coherent advice
An old car 429 with a autolite 4bbl in your truck? Great!
Those old ones need some fuel
Remember the old blue oil filter housing that stuck on the side of the air cleaner on those old 429-460's?.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2022
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It's a 71 429 and a 77 f250 camper special- At first wouldn't spark because on the coil I had accidentally wired a positive lead to the negative side of my coil. And later found out from my brother that he'd accidentally ripped a wire off the coil before I came to work on the truck. So grabbed what I was calling the negative ( dark green to the computer) +tack and put them on the negative pole they way they had come off in my video. And put the ignition red wire over to the positive pole on the other side. Check and then I had spark.
So I'm not sure how all that effects my oil pressure, I had seen a comment somebody say it can get grounded out and max out the guage.
So I'm not sure how all that effects my oil pressure, I had seen a comment somebody say it can get grounded out and max out the guage.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2022
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-PCV valve line wasn't connected and now it starts and idles no problem at all no flames.
- swapped the oil pressure sensor out with the one from the 400 and put it on the 429 and now oil pressure reads good. So that's that.
- swapped the oil pressure sensor out with the one from the 400 and put it on the 429 and now oil pressure reads good. So that's that.
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