390 Started/won't start
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390 Started/won't start
I bought a 73 pickup with a 390 in it. The truck was used as a parts truck, so some things are missing. First thing we did was try to get it to run, and we ran a wire directly from the battery to the coil, giving it power. It started up with gas in the carb, but when you give it gas it popped and backfired. 3 or 4 of the plug wires were off the distributer, so we checked the firing order on a Chilton that went to 72. We rewired them to those specs, now it won't start at all. Also, when the coil has power, it acts as if the battery is dead, but it isn't. Pull the power from the coil, it starts right up. Could the firing order be incorrect? Was 73 different? The book showed all Ford V8's except 351's used that firing order, and I don't have it with me to give the order it showed, sorry. Any suggestions? Its almost as if its retarding itself severly or something, causing the starter issue. Strange! Thanks.
Tim
Tim
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From: Missouri
Welcome to FTE!!!
All Fes have the same firing order. The points are probably shot. The condenser is problably shot. You shouldn't run a direct 12V to the coil. There is a resistor in the wire that goes to it from the key switch. Basically you have to do a complete tune up before you start worrying. If you pull the 72 up next to it the wiring should be similar if not exactly the same.
All Fes have the same firing order. The points are probably shot. The condenser is problably shot. You shouldn't run a direct 12V to the coil. There is a resistor in the wire that goes to it from the key switch. Basically you have to do a complete tune up before you start worrying. If you pull the 72 up next to it the wiring should be similar if not exactly the same.
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Thanks! A friend is working on it, he wired it directly to get it to start bipassing the key. The wiring is messed up and it wasn't getting power, which is why he wired it direct.
Would the points and that being shot cause it to act as if the battery was dead when wired up? I mean it turns over great, until you touch that wire then it just about dies down. Its like there is a MAJOR short or something, its strange. This guy has built cars for years, and never seen anything like this before.
Tim
Would the points and that being shot cause it to act as if the battery was dead when wired up? I mean it turns over great, until you touch that wire then it just about dies down. Its like there is a MAJOR short or something, its strange. This guy has built cars for years, and never seen anything like this before.
Tim
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From: Balfour
Check your wires out, they foul up in only certain spots sometimes or get melted somewhere hidden from sight.
If your wiring is good, your coil,condenser, cap,points, and rotor are good aswell then maybe your timing is off?
Pop and back fire when it tries to catch?? Bump the dizzy to the right a bit and try again.... Bump it to the right some more, try to start the motor again.
I just had a similer problem trying to start my beast 360 up
again. It would back fire through the pipe or the carb when I tried to start it, and I'd have to add gas to get that reaction. I thought maybe timing was retarded so I turn the distruter counter clockwise a bit and the engine grumbled a bit more before it back fired... so I kept moving it over and cranking till the thing fired up and ran without gas down the carb.
electrical problems are a severe PITA I hope this may offer you some help in solving your troubles...
If your wiring is good, your coil,condenser, cap,points, and rotor are good aswell then maybe your timing is off?
Pop and back fire when it tries to catch?? Bump the dizzy to the right a bit and try again.... Bump it to the right some more, try to start the motor again.
I just had a similer problem trying to start my beast 360 up
again. It would back fire through the pipe or the carb when I tried to start it, and I'd have to add gas to get that reaction. I thought maybe timing was retarded so I turn the distruter counter clockwise a bit and the engine grumbled a bit more before it back fired... so I kept moving it over and cranking till the thing fired up and ran without gas down the carb.
electrical problems are a severe PITA I hope this may offer you some help in solving your troubles...
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Theoretically everything should be pretty much disconnected. We've disconnected everything we could, trying to find this issue, with no luck. Since it is ONLY when it has power to the coil, it is strange. It is fine when the coil don't have power. It is going to be just a plow truck, and work truck for hauling when needed, so I'm not worried about how it gets running, as long as it does. He was talking about the ignition not starting it, and was going to wire it direct, with a push button start and toggle switch to run/shut off, which is cool with me. I told him do what you gotta do! LOL Just so it runs. It has a Western Plow unit on it, no blade, a 390 in it and I got it for $100 through a friend so I can't complain.
Tim
Tim
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From: Missouri
Okay hold the train. I think I know what you are talking about. The carb was backfiring when you wires were all crossed and messed up. Now when you crank on it it cranks real slow right? But only when the coil has juice? This is caused by one thing and that is your timing being too advanced. Turn the distributor counter clockwise a bit and try again. Do you have a timing light handy? This would be very helpful to ya.
The only other slim possibility I can think of is that the coil is shorted internally. I have never seen this but if the timing change doesn't help then I would swap the coils with the other truck and go from there.
The only other slim possibility I can think of is that the coil is shorted internally. I have never seen this but if the timing change doesn't help then I would swap the coils with the other truck and go from there.
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Yes, this is correct. It only does it when the coil has juice, when there is no juice it turns over fine. I'll try this, and see what happens. I'm sure he has a timing light there, he's got a fully stocked garage. Thanks! Will let you know how it goes.
Tim
Tim
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Not sure how valid it is, but since the guys brother works for a Ford Dealer, it must be fairly true. He mentioned it to his brother, and he immediatly told him he had tarnished gas, and to take all the plugs out, and the gas line off, pump some gas through and allow the cylinders to blow the bad gas out. We did so, and man were those plugs nasty! Stinky too! It was pumping clean gas at that time, but the bad gas must have taken its toll. Since it started the first time, we assumed it would fire. We did check a couple plugs, and they were getting fire, but his brother explained something about bad fire in the cylinder with the existance of the bad gas. Anyhow, we blew them out, and its pumping clean gas. I bought 8 plugs, and tomorow we're going to install them. Just thought I'd throw this out, in case anyone else has heard of it, or has had the same problem etc. I will let everyone know if it worked. If it doesn't, we're going to try the timing thing mentioned above. I wasn't aware the gas was THAT bad.
Tim
Tim
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Well, he followed his brothers instructions, part of which were mentioned by Ratsmoker. I've got to say, it seems to have worked!
We pulled the plugs out, and put the gas line into a gallon jug. The gas was pretty clean, and it blew the bad gas out of the cylinders. Man did THAT stink! We put new plugs back in, the others were most likely fouled, and adjusted the timing. BOOM! Still had the problem, but it started. It wasn't as bad as it had been though, but fine tuning the timing it seems to be ok. While we haven't fired it up much, just to test it now and then, it does seem to be fine. Its running great, sounds great, no noises or anything. Great $100 pickup!
Thanks Ratsmoker, you're the man!
Tim
We pulled the plugs out, and put the gas line into a gallon jug. The gas was pretty clean, and it blew the bad gas out of the cylinders. Man did THAT stink! We put new plugs back in, the others were most likely fouled, and adjusted the timing. BOOM! Still had the problem, but it started. It wasn't as bad as it had been though, but fine tuning the timing it seems to be ok. While we haven't fired it up much, just to test it now and then, it does seem to be fine. Its running great, sounds great, no noises or anything. Great $100 pickup!
Thanks Ratsmoker, you're the man!
Tim
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Well, its running, and sounds great! That was our first hurdle. I also figured out where the wiring went, and got everything working there too. Still gotta figure out a driveshaft though, the front shaft is out of it, not sure if the 86 will work or not. But not much left. Change the plow lights, put bulbs and lenses in it etc. Can't wait! Thanks again.
Tim
Tim