400 Trouble
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
The engine is a 79 same as the Bronco, I'm not sure about the timing chain, but I know I had a long block rebuilt about 70k miles ago, so the chain couldn't be in horable condition.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Whitehorse Yukon
i think the key factor here is water and it only belongs in one place. so if the distributor is dry there may be a chance some got into the carb. once in the float bowl it will sit on the bottom and cause all kinds of havoc.If you truck ran fine before you washed the engine that would be the next place i looked.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I'm pretty sure the engine got some water, because when I took off the air filter the carb was a little wet. So would the water only be in the carb, or in the engine? If in the engine how well and safe at the same time would it be to turn the engine without spark pulgs?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
How much water could get into the motor from spraying it? A little water will not cause any long term problem. It would take a lot of water to cause a problem.
Start from the begining. Check the spark, and the timing, and the fuel, and the air.
Does it crank over easily?
If not remove the plugs and crank it. Does it crank now?
If it cranks OK, does it try to start?
Start from the begining. Check the spark, and the timing, and the fuel, and the air.
Does it crank over easily?
If not remove the plugs and crank it. Does it crank now?
If it cranks OK, does it try to start?
Last edited by danlee; Aug 13, 2005 at 08:51 PM.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I think some water go stuck in the air filter and sucked through into the engine, but the engine cranks over easy, but doesn't try to start. It cranks then some gas vapor or fumes shoots up form the carb and then the exhaust sounds like a little back fire.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
That is timing/ignition or mixture.
Check your timing and firing order and your spark. Look into the throat of the carb with the engine off and pump the gas pedal. Look for a stream of fuel squirting into the carb.
Check your timing and firing order and your spark. Look into the throat of the carb with the engine off and pump the gas pedal. Look for a stream of fuel squirting into the carb.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
I had a similar problem in the 400 in my 77 f-150. But in mine first it would turn over slow and not charge then after i got that fixed it started running bad about a month later. First it would turn over slow and wouldnt charge. I went through everything and ended up replacing the battery cables and it worked like new. Then about a month later the timing chain jumped a tooth (nobody ever accused these motors of having a great timing chain) and it would run really crappy and had no power. It could have been that these two things happend to you at the same time.
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Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I'm going to check out the timing chain when I get a chance saturday, IF it is messed up, I think I'm going to go with a double roller timing chain, which would be much better than stock.
If you have any other Ideas, I'm open for comments.
If you have any other Ideas, I'm open for comments.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 333
From: Arlington,Wa
I had similar problem as you. Would try to start while cranking, but let off the key and it would die. (With some backfire) Turned out to be my coil wire on the coil end. It was corroded bad. I had tried new dizzy, cap rotor, new plugs (have Taylor wires), and was thinkin timing chain when i decided to check coil wire and viola!!! Give it a try if you haven't already. Just me .02... 
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I tryed putting starter fluid everywhere, coil, distributor, ignition module, down the carb, and then I tryed to start it and it did. It ran like crap, so I turned it off, figuring it was the timing chain. I rechecked my spark plug wires and I had 2 mixed up and I put them like they were suposed to be and I started it and it ran like a champ.
Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.
Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.
