Figured it was time for a new quarterly thread!

Dave, when I came by to see you today, I was in a rush and didn't get to talk to you about my truck issue. I *might* have told you before, just in the past month or so, the truck has been hard to start when hot. Very slow cranking. I thought "dang did this motor become high compression in it's old age?". Acted like heat soak on the starter, but it does not have headers, just factory cast iron manifolds, so no reason for the starter to get abnormally hot. It is the original 50 year old starter though so maybe it was time, I was even googling for high torque mini starters just in case. Then on Monday, backed the truck into the carport to load up some lumber, and she would not start after that! Not even turn over, barely even a click. As if the battery was dead but I just couldn't see that as happening for no reason. So I get out under the hood and start checking things out, first thing I found was the starter cable was loose at the solenoid end. So I go to tighten it, and it turns, but the cable is still loose. After 4 or 5 turns, the dang thing just snapped. I guess it was spinning inside. Luckily Autozone had one in stock (although their cheap $9 solenoid now costs $27). So I swapped all the wires over and works great. Now even when hot she cranks over easily. Next up I need to take care of that annoying belt squeal


D'oh!

 

Got to watch that cheat now $27 solenoid as the cheap ones tend to stay engaged when you let the key off and the starter stays engaged, makes a not so good noise LOL.

It is a on going thing in the 80 to 86 truck area and when I had issues with my truck, it would just click once every time you turned the key to start.
I would do that a bunch and it would then turn over and start.
Thinking bad connections I cleaned them all even where the solenoid bolt to the body, it was even worst then
I picked up top of the line solenoid from NAPA think it was $50 IIRC no issues in years.

Did you get the carb gasket for the Mustang that I listed a wile back to help heat soak on it?

I did not say anything yesterday at the show, we all had our hands full, but besides the swaying pulling the trailer to the show the motor had issues bucking really bad. I have had it when I do the trash runs it was just worst with the trailer.
My air fuel ratio gauge dose not move much when it happens from when it is running good but could be fuel?

The swaying was a lot better on the way home with the tire at 35 PSI, did not like 14 PSI I also moved the 2 cement buckets to the front.

The bucking I thought might be vacuum advance but I stopped on the way to the show and pulled it off with no change.
The factory tach dose not bounce when this happens but it also dose not move vary fast so it could be IGN.?
The DSII box is a few years old. The old box leaked potting when hot but still worked. This I have it behind the seat as a spare.

I am going out in a bit to try different things to see if I can pin point the cause.
I do have a Ebay carb I can install if I have to but I dont want to change to many things at once because if it gets worst or better I will not know what it was that made the change.
Wish me luck LOL
Dave ----

 

Well the motor was a little dirty / oily so I de-greased it and took up on the valve cover bolts.
I did 1 thing at a time so I would know what fixed it or hurt it if it goes wrong.

Found water under dist. cap but think from washing it.
Dried it out checked the coil horse shoe connection, looked good.
Coil plug wire looked good at both ends. Took for a test still bucking.
I did not have the ICM behind the seat but found it at home. swapped it over, still bucking.

Next up to swap out the carb as I have one I got off Ebay a while back.
Had to do a little moding and vacuun hose routing but got it installed.
Idles and runs a lot smoother and leaner based on my AFR gauge.
It feels like it has more power but it still has bucking all the way up to 3K+

When I was out for the test drive I picked up plugs and a new coil, not that I have ever seen a coil go bad like this before.
Most burn spark thru the tower to one of the wire connection turning it to junk.

It will be a few days before I can get back to the truck for more part swapping and testing.
Dave ----

 

That bucking under load that you described, sounds to me like carburetor - specifically the power valve that is supposed to add fuel when vacuum is low (ie under load). I know you said the AF ratio seems ok, but under load shouldn't it be something like 11:1 and then the rest of time like 15:1 or something. Maybe I'm over-exaggerating! If not fuel, maybe try pulling timing back 2 degrees and test drive it, make a note if worse, better, or same.

If you don't have it sorted out before the car show cruise-in at the Food Hall, then I can tow it with my truck. It tows it ok and doesn't seem bothered much by it however the stopping is a little sketch because I don't have trailer brake controller.

I did not buy the spacer, but I kept it in my notes for "maybe". I have not had the problem before or since, and it's been more than 10 years with the setup I have, so I don't think it was heat related. Definitely had fuel in places where it should not be, all the indications of stuck float except that it was not coming out the overflow thing on top. I still need to show you that piece.

 

You guys want to get together with the trucks for Saturday or Sunday morning coffee this month? That is assuming I can put mine back together in short order. 😬

 

I swapped out the carb and still no love it still bucks.
It dose feel like it has more power and it is running better than before. It is also running leaner based on my AFR gauge. Old carb was running rich this one is on the money from what I have seen.

I am sure it is a spark issue and not fuel. If it was fuel or lack of it would act like running out of gas and this is just cutting off and back on really fast.

On the last test drive I picked up plugs and a coil so they are next in line to test / replace.
Dave ----

 

Saturday I have a show listed in Selma and told of one on NC 50 think it is Garner? At the Zion church that one of our members is a member of.
Thinking the club will be going to church LOL.

On Sunday there is a Cars & Coffee in Garner we have gone to once that was nice. Would like to go to that one again.
What you say John church on Saturday C & C Garner Sunday?
Dave ----

 

Oh the club trailer if the pickup is not good by food hall I got the Dodge I can pull it with and it has brakes.
Dave ----

 

Dave; you know after thinking it over what you said makes sense. Getting fuel, just having trouble firing the fuel off under load. So plugs & plug wires first? If that doesn't do it, then move on to coil, and ignition module?

Land & Stone, and Dave, yes I would go to Garner cars & coffee on Sunday. But Saturday as mentioned a lot of us want to go out to Selma for a car show.

Johnston Community Church
Sat Oct 14, 1st Annual Car Truck & Tractor show
$20 entry fee
450 Janie Road, Selma, NC

Garner Cars & Coffee
Sponsored by Full Bloom Roasters
Free, Every 3rd Sunday
141 W. Main Street, Garner, NC

 

All the ignition parts have been replaced when I got the truck but only 4 years worth of drive time on them.
I did try a different ignition box same bucking.
Cap rotor looked good as do the wire, it fired up when wet from decreasing.
I will check and change plugs then coil just because I have them.
I also need to check coil voltage if it is in spec.
My gut thinks it is the pickup coil in the distributor.

I am off Tuesday as Mary had a procedure done for Afib, still at hospital till 930. So hope to work on truck between watching mary.

As for Saturday show everyone is hitting Selma?
I am up for that just thought that we would go to Dave Allen church car show is why I said it.
I am also up for Sunday's C & C.
Dave ----

 

Well maybe it's time for a new distributor? It sounds like just about everything else has been looked at it or swapped right?

I think I see us splitting into 2 groups on Saturday, as I know John Avery and someone else (cannot remember who) are really wanting to go to Selma, but Dave Allen is going to Mt Zion show, he sent me flyer yesterday and told me that last year you and Dick Mills and Tony accompanied him there. I will find out for sure Thursday at the meeting, who is wanting to go to which show.

 

I dont really want to replace the dist. as I recurved the springs in this one to stop the pinging.
When in the hospital with Mary yesterday I looked up the pick up coil and only 1 store in Raleigh has it for think $50
I may take a drive if Mary is ok with me going.

Speaking of dist. now that it is cooler I got to do that part swapping on your 2 that I have had for way to long

I am up for either show but I can almost walk to Dave A show LOL
Not that Selma is that far away.
Let me know on them as I most like cant make the meeting like always
Dave ----

 

well I am on the right path
#1 thru #6 left to right or top to bottom.
Changed the plugs, first 3 did not look bad and was thinking this is not it then got to #4 and WTH!
The motor never showed any signs of a miss up to this bucking but looking at #4 I dont know how that could be?

Took it for a test drive and the bucking is pretty much gone under load (empty but it did buck before the plug change).
Thing is I can feel a miss at steady throttle and trying to speed up in the higher gears, 4th and 4th OD.
I will let the motor cool down some and see if I can swap the plug wires from that plug to another and keep and eye on the 2 plugs to see if they show any signs of an issue.
I will also recheck the cap closer for spark tracing. But it is strange if it was cross firing I am not getting any back firing anywhere as you would think you would?

When I pulled the first plug and saw the greenish color at the top I was like
Then got looking closer and it is blue paint.
I installed them when I first got the truck to fix a miss it had and left them in when I detailed the motor (painted it).
They been in for 8 years, first 4 just to move it in & out of garage when building it.
Then 4 on the road. It is not like I only drive it on slow back roads because when I take it to work it is 70 MPH for 45 min.
Dave ----

 

In swapping plug wires around I pulled the metal plug end out of the good wire
I forced it back in but I will need to replace the newish wires at some point.

I swapped out the coil and cleaned the horse shoe connector really good, I still feel a miss not a bucking like before the plug change.

I readjusted the idle speed and mixture on the carb now that the new plugs are in.
Took truck for a test drive and I feel a miss just about all the time now bot it idles great.
When I left the motor was warm and the fast idle came on but not the choke as the AFR gauge went so lean it went blank!
The gauge runs about mid 15's to mid 16's and sometimes 17's. So I am thinking I might be feeling a lean miss fire.
I am going to see if I can make the needle & jet richer and see what that dose.
Dave ----

 

Well you definitely are on the right track as that one plug in particular was beat. Now like you said richen it a little and maybe see if that miss goes away.

I drove my truck on a long road trip yesterday, out to Sandford and back. I wanted to avoid traffic and highways, so I went the back way down 210 to Lillington, then took 421 up to Sanford. But I really should have looked at the address on the map, as it was north of Sanford on US1 so I had no choice but to get on the bypass for 16 miles, then get on US1 for another 7 or 8 miles. On the way home I went US1 north and got off on the 540 so I could to the 55 bypass and go home through Holley Springs, but of course nothing but stop-n-go traffic on 55 for many miles past all those shopping centers. I remember when 55 was a rinky-dink back road. The truck did well, aside from very low oil pressue which is always the way it goes whenever it is warmed up well and driven for more than 20 minutes. I thought I felt a little slight sputter or miss when returning to low throttle after coasting. It happened 3 times and I don't think anyone else would have noticed, but being that it's my truck and I drive it and am in tune with every sound and feel, I noticed and thought "did I just feel that?". All in all I drove it about 130 miles and took probably 3 hours out of my day. All for 7 pieces of 1x6 Cedar! But the price difference in Sanford was worth it, $10 per board = $70 vs the guy in Zebulon who wanted $110 for 6 boards. I only needed 6 but felt more comfortable having an extra board in case I mess up a cut or find a crack etc. I spent $45 in gas but I am sure Zebulon and back would have been $20 in gas so I still came out ahead.



Long drive for such a small load of rough cut 1x6 cedar!


Here are flyers for both car shows.
I figured for Mt Zion, here are the people who live closer:
Dave A, Dave G, Tony, John M, Dick M, Andre, Wayne, Monty, Mike V, Woody


Mt Zion Church, Garner

Johnston Community Church, Selma


I figured for Johnston Community Church
John A, Danny P, Dwight, Larry J

But a lot of people closer to Mt Zion might not know about that show, as nothing shared on social media yet, and Dave A did say he brought the flyer to the meeting and showed it around but nobody ever mentioned it to me so I don't think it stuck in people's heads for the most part.