Well, I'm still having problems guys. What started out as a simple
fuel pump replacement has turned into a big fat headache. I am getting good spark and fuel plus the compression checks out OK! My original problem was the fuel pump went out after replacing it i started it up let it run for 4 or 5 min. shut it off know i cant get it to start.

I have tested and replaced ignition parts just to be positive of the spark, when i take a plug wire off it is getting spark and if I take the plug out and leave the wire on and turn it over there is good spark.

So then I went to the fuel system I even changed the fuel pump again with another new one. I've removed the carb and rebuilt it seems to be working fine. Thaught maybe i had a flooding problem so i changed all the plugs and still wont fire.

I'm lost! I've checked the timing so many times i have dreams about it !

Had a buddy tell me it's a possibility that the cam gear has slipped on the cam shaft and got all out of wack. I'm not getting any backfire though. I consider myself pretty mechanical inclined in my
41 years the only time i took one of my vehicles to a shop to get repaired was for tranny problems. I've never had one lick me yet, but this one is coming close.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! -Carl

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Jan-02 AT 06:50 PM (EST)]How many miles ?

Are you ready for a possible Good news ,bad news situation?

Good !
Take the Distributor cap off.
grab a power bar and a socket for the Harmonic balancer.
Yep! We're gonna check for a stretched or skipped timing chain.

You know rest !
While turning the crank ,see how many degrees the power bar turns before the dist. rotor turns> First ONE WAY > Then The other<

I'm betting at least 45*

To me that's the only thing it can be.

My friends 86 with 320,000Km just one day > Poof!
It was the gears and chain.

Dennis

Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"




https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Jan-02 AT 07:23&nbsp;PM (EST)]Well, its got 118,000 on it but just last spring i had to replace the rear main seal because it was leaking badly. At that time ( i yanked the engine ) put in new seals, bearings, oil pump and chain and gears.

I know anythings possible but it is just really wierd it acts like the cylinders aint getting any fuel the plugs are dry when i check them. But gas is going through the carb into the intake i've pulled the carb twice now and there is fuel laying in the intake. I guess my nekt step is to pull the timing cover, dang i hate to have to do that.
I have pulled the valve covers and rockers seem to be moving like they should. Hows a dist. act when it goes bad? I dont know im willing to try anything at this point! Clogged converter?
-Carl
p.s its a 84 f150 351W 4barrel.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Jan-02 AT 07:28&nbsp;PM (EST)]First thing I would do is Borrow a Fuel pressure tester.
That would show the fuel pump is working.
Sometimes the actuating arm gets installed in the wrong position.

I thnk you need to do a run through making sure all the components are in the right position.

Also,have you tried pouring a liitle gas down the carb throat just to make sure there is fuel in the intake?


Do you have to do this yourself or do you have a helper?


Dennis

Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"




https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=144&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=143&.jpg
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

We own a 86 mustang 2.8 V-6. It had the same exact problem. Take off the Distributor cap, pull the rotor out and look in the inside. If worn, replace. That's what solved the mustang's problem.

 

Sometimes i have a helper sometimes myself.
When i take the fuel line off the carb and turn it over gas shoots out, while try to turn it over and pump the gas i see it coming out of the carb, both times when i've taken the carb off fuel is laying in my intake. Looks like a lot more than normal to me but the plugs are dry?

I've pulled the dist. changed the pick up, put on a new cap, rotor, coil, control module and spark plugs nothing seemed to make a differance. When having some one turn it over while i am looking at it the spark at the plugs is real good.

Just dont make sense to me! I dont know were to go from this point!
-Carl

 

I would try holding the gas all the way to the floor, and without pumping it, crank it over for about 5 secs and see if it tries to clear up and hint at maybe trying to start. If you have spark, it should try to do something. If the dist was off, or the timing chain slipped, it still should give a hint that it is trying to fire, like backfiring or coughing up through the carb or the exhaust. If it is completely dead, and you have spark, and the valve train is turning, my inclination is it is still flooded. By the way, with all this experimenting, be careful and let the starter cool off between tries.

 

Do a compression check,just to see if there around 150psi,a timing chain thats bad will also show low compression.Then double check firing order and make sure dist. is in right place,pointing to #1 on compression stroke.Maybe take off the gas tank cap to vent fuel system.I like to use starting fliud to check for fuel related problems.Remove entire carb,install flamed plugs,and route fuel line into a bottle,then shoot a ___little ether into intake and try to start.....youll know where you stand after this.....just a little shot now.

 

I agree with some of the other posts that it should at least fire! You've got spark, you've got gas, and you've got air. Only thing I can think of is a blocked exhaust or bleached cylinders from flooding. Bleached cylinders will show up as low compression, squirt a little oil down each cylinder and try again...Or disconnect your exhaust in front of the cat converter and see if that helps.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Jan-02 AT 01:23&nbsp;PM (EST)]I have to say this is a good one like my BII which I eventually striped the computer out of after a month of hair pulling. I can't add any more tips everyone else has covered all the bases pretty well and I would have suggested the same things all I can add is GOOD LUCK! wish the best I have been there. On second thought I used to have problems with small engines doing the same thing wether or not the choke worked or not and I used to hold my hand over the carb and they would start. I might just for the hell of it block the carb don't touch the gas and give it a whirl it might do something(I know it sounds low tech).

400m

 

The one thing I noticed that everyone seemed to miss is that
you are saying that there is a lot of fuel in the intake but the plugs are dry .

Are you sure the intake valves are opening ?

Just a thought

 

Fouled plugs could do that all right....

At this point it's time to go "BY THE NUMBERS"

If the plugs are clean and firing, block the choke all the way open, with the throttle down all the way.

Turn it a few times, and if it won't fire leave everything blocked open for an hour so that any fuel in the intake runners can evaporate.

Fuel in the cylinders will gradually leak past the rings, if you're lucky...

Check the spec on the choke gap - it should be somewhere around an eighth inch or so, and also look at what is called a "Choke Unloader".

Its a vacuum diaphram that opens the choke when the engine runs (IE: Has Vacuum). If you can suck air through it, replace it immediately.And make sure the new one is set right.

They're only a few bucks most places.

If it still ain't right, DON'T trade in the carb, get a rebuild kit.