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I have a 33 BB truck with the Flathead v8. I put on an electronic Mallory distributor, new wires, new coil, new spark plugs. The engine is only firing on 4 and 5th cylinder. The spark isn’t very big but it is getting spark and the distributor is getting power to it but I can’t figure out why no spark on the other cylinders. I put on another ground strap from the engine to frame with no luck. Any ideas?
I'm not familiar with this ignition, but suggest verifying proper voltage is getting to the coil from the ignition. Is the coil the correct type and resistance for the Mallory dist.? Is it supposed to have a ballast resistor/or not, in series with the coil feed wire? Might have a look under the dist. cap for anything unusual, like hairline cracks or an issue with the rotor. Some things to check. Good luck!
I don`t know if this will help but check the fit of the rotor arm on the shaft-I just bought a 36 1.5 ton truck for a bargain price (from a dealer)because the timing would not stay steady and the engine kept cutting out after revving it
...............turned out the fix was a £15 rotor arm as the other apparently new one in the electronic distributor was 0.004" loose on the shaft!!!!
That's a beautiful truck! It's obviously a deluxe cab, but better yet it looks like a dealer demonstrator truck. They would have been blue with yellow fenders I think in '36. Does it still have the '36 engine with the water pumps in the heads? Or maybe a later type up to '48 with center outlets on trhe heads and front distributer under the belts. Or the later with the post type 'normal' distributor? It will matter as we help diagnose. Very COOL truck!!!
Hi and thank you for the compliments ,how would I know if it was a deluxe cab ? It now runs like a dream ,it has a mercury 8BA style of engine as the original one had a crank issue ,I do though have it in pieces in a box !
Excellent! I am in the process of building an 8BA with a 4" merc crank, bored .125 + for 276 cu in. You definately have a deluxe cab. Chrome grill, windshield frame, dual chrome horns. That paint scheme on the hood sides looks to be reproducing what the dealer demonstrator had. Looks like that door may have been blue. Any evidence of a bright chrome yellow on the wheels, fenders or anywhere else? Was odd color scheme for sure, but the demonstrators got some colors. In the 30s you could go to ford, sign some papers, get a demonstrator to try out on your farm/business etc and see how it worked out for you. You NEED a copy of James Wagner's 'Ford Trucks Since 1905'. Should be on amazon used. You will not regret buying it. I have worn out 2 copies since 1978. Please post more pics. Thanks, GB EDit: only one chrome horn. Evidence of one on right?
I have a 33 BB truck with the Flathead v8. I put on an electronic Mallory distributor, new wires, new coil, new spark plugs. The engine is only firing on 4 and 5th cylinder. The spark isn’t very big but it is getting spark and the distributor is getting power to it but I can’t figure out why no spark on the other cylinders. I put on another ground strap from the engine to frame with no luck. Any ideas?
From what you've described, I suggest you double-check the condition of the spark plugs. Even though they are new, one might be faulty.
Well, you can also try swapping the spark plugs from the working cylinders to the non-working ones to see if the problem follows the spark plugs.
