Howdy all.

I think I asked this question in the old truck section but I thought I repeat it here.

I have a 239 in my old F-600. It's got a zillion miles on it but it did run ok.

Then, it all of a sudden started running rough and didn't want to start. I had to rotate the dist(advance) about 20 or more degrees to get it running again and now, although it does run , it runs pretty crummy.

I have never had a timing set slip on any engine. I just assumed that if it did it would not run at all.


I'm sure that these engines are NOT interference type engine so the valves wouln't hit pistons, but if you get the valve timing out far enough it should start backfiring thru the carb etc.



The engine has a LOT of miles on it so I am reluctant to even pull front end off and look. (I'd like to just find a 292 and swap it out for the time being.....I'm looking for a 300L6/ZF-5speed to swap out but that's a "next-winter" project.)

I really need to drive it now so I'm either going to swap out the timing set or swap the engine but I'd like get a feel for what the problem really is. I'd just like to fix it possible.


Any ideas?


Thanks,



Rick

 

Timing chains often jump a tooth when worn but Id first pull the dizzy and check vacuum canister as well as shaft play. Many truck 239's used the same dizzy as 55-6 Y's. If the gear is 14 tooth your in luck. My 54 239 had that dizzy.

 

I had a Load-O-Matic but I pulled it off last year and put a much newer dist from a 292. I also installed a pertronix unit and it ran pretty well until this problem happened..

I will check all the insides though.

 

You might rotate all your spark plug wires one hole in the dizzy and see if that makes a difference, and as a means of detecting the jumped timing.

 

Hi Mike!

Yes,

I tried that....in fact I had to do just that in order to get it to advance enough to get it to run again... With my timing light I moved the dist 20+ degrees just to get it the light to flash CLOSE to the crank pully mark again!

That's why I suspect that it "slipped a tooth or three"! I have never had a timing set jump. I have always thought that when a timing chain slips it goes "all the way"!

Anyway, it's possible that the engine is so worn out that it's not worth replacing the timing set. I may as well just replace the engine. I have found a couple of 292's but I can never catch them at home when I can look.

My other choice is to go on ahead and find a 300+ZF and start building.

Life is full of choices huh?









on the timing set.

 

I think you are right regarding the motor condition overall. If you go to the time and trouble of replacing the chain, there would be another major problem coming soon, especially with the work the motor does in the heavy rig.

 

Rick, you've probably already seen this & it sounds like you covered things, but here's a thread that might help.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=475865

Sounds like he got it fixed by replacing the dizzy, but he never did say what specifically was wrong with it.

 

Thanks,

Been there done that sort of thing.

I got my dist from Mike and installed a pertronix unit inside. It's been running famously until the sudden crummyrunning!

I got it running again by advancing it almost 20 degrees. It must have slipped the chain etc...THe engine was real tired even before I had the problem....


I think I'm just going to find a running 272/292 and swap it out. I might check the timing set and cam on the one I do find though. I want to drive this thing around a bit before I take it apart and do the REAL restoration. I found a great Reading 8x12 flatbed that has a 2000lb lift gate on the back. I'm going to replace all the wood, paint it and install it.

It'll be pretty nice for hauling just about anything.

I need an engine though!

 

Rick,
If you get desparate for a 292, I found a place 30 miles from here with three or four still installed in trucks at a metal salvage. Be glad to help out if needed. They shouldnt be too expensive. The guy sold me a nice Chyrsler third row seat for $20. The auto salvage a few miles away wanted 175.00 for the same seat.

 

Thanks Mike...


I'll bet the fuel to drive down there and back would be more than the engine!


The good thing is that 292's are pretty much everywhere. It would be nice to find a decent one for cheep!

 

Rick, try pulling the Pertronix and going back to points for a quick test. The Petronix has too many vacuum tubes squeezed into that little package

 

I agree with 286merc. I was searching 'timing' last night and came across several threads with similar problems and the solution was to yank the Pentronix dist.

Infact the only times replacing the new distributor with the old was the solution, the distributor in question was a Pentronix, and it was generally about a year after install. It make me wonder if I want to upgrade my own ignition now.