thermostat/tuning problem?
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thermostat/tuning problem?
guys-
over the last two weekends, i've done two things- dropped from a 195 to a 180-degree thermostat, and rebuilt the autolite 2100 2-v carb on my 360. i didn't drive it in between the two weekends.
drove it for the first time this morning...and noticed two problems. first- on my 15-minute drive to work, the truck never got up to 180. (it's 80 degrees outside already this morning).
and second...it lacked a lot of the "oomph" that it's had since i vacuum-tuned it.
could it need to be re-tuned for the lower operating temps?
(or should i just put the 195 thermostat back in?)
thanks,
sam
over the last two weekends, i've done two things- dropped from a 195 to a 180-degree thermostat, and rebuilt the autolite 2100 2-v carb on my 360. i didn't drive it in between the two weekends.
drove it for the first time this morning...and noticed two problems. first- on my 15-minute drive to work, the truck never got up to 180. (it's 80 degrees outside already this morning).
and second...it lacked a lot of the "oomph" that it's had since i vacuum-tuned it.
could it need to be re-tuned for the lower operating temps?
(or should i just put the 195 thermostat back in?)
thanks,
sam
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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thermostat/tuning problem?
any ideas where on my carb rebuild i could have fouled something up? it wasn't having any trouble before, i rebuilt it just in an attempt to free up the throttle linkage, because it was having trouble returning to a proper idle speed after revving it.
the carb is so simple, a monkey could have rebuilt it...but then again, maybe i'm not that smart...
the carb is so simple, a monkey could have rebuilt it...but then again, maybe i'm not that smart...
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,640
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From: Albuquerque
thermostat/tuning problem?
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 21-Jun-01 AT 12:06 PM (EST)[/font][p]What kind of carb? You might have the float level too low. Do you have a "good" temperature gauge? i.e. very accurate? Make sure the butterflies open all the way. Has someone push the pedal town while you look down the carb. Not while running of course. ;-)
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 161
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thermostat/tuning problem?
it's got a good temp gauge- shiny new autometer.
everything was fine with the old thermostat- it would zip right up to about 200, and hold there. i let a friend (argh!) talk me into changing it, because he said it would lower the temp in the cab.
now, it sloooooowly creeps up to 180...takes about 20 minutes to get there. almost like the 'stat is letting the water flow constantly. i'll probably swap it out again this weekend. but, i've got a bad feeling it's not going to help the lack of 'zoom' my truck had before-
it's almost like it's not getting enough gas (i'll check the float level, like you mentioned). it doesn't hesitate at all, just takes a while to rev up. before, i couldn't shift the old 3-speed fast enough to keep up with it.
everything was fine with the old thermostat- it would zip right up to about 200, and hold there. i let a friend (argh!) talk me into changing it, because he said it would lower the temp in the cab.
now, it sloooooowly creeps up to 180...takes about 20 minutes to get there. almost like the 'stat is letting the water flow constantly. i'll probably swap it out again this weekend. but, i've got a bad feeling it's not going to help the lack of 'zoom' my truck had before-
it's almost like it's not getting enough gas (i'll check the float level, like you mentioned). it doesn't hesitate at all, just takes a while to rev up. before, i couldn't shift the old 3-speed fast enough to keep up with it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
thermostat/tuning problem?
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 21-Jun-01 AT 02:00 PM (EST)[/font][p]It might have something to do with the brand of thermostat. Or maybe defective. I think 185 is as low as I would go. If you can find one. I like the Robert/Shaw Hi performance, I think its called. Here's a tip. Drill an 1/8" hole in the thermo. face. It will let the air out while you fill it. I run a 195 thermo now year round. As long as it doesn't go over that I feel OK with it.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 3
From: Comox Valley, Canada
thermostat/tuning problem?
"everything was fine with the old thermostat- it would zip right up to about 200, and hold there. i let a friend (argh!) talk me into changing it, because he said it would lower the temp in the cab."
Nice thought but I don't understand the logic
now, it sloooooowly creeps up to 180...takes about 20 minutes to get there. almost like the 'stat is letting the water flow constantly. i'll probably swap it out again this weekend. but, i've got a bad feeling it's not going to help the lack of 'zoom' my truck had before"
Sure sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.
"it's almost like it's not getting enough gas (i'll check the float level, like you mentioned). it doesn't hesitate at all, just takes a while to rev up. before, i couldn't shift the old 3-speed fast enough to keep up with it"
Is the accelorator pump linkage in the right hole? If you have it in the inside hole you won't get a big shot of gas. It should be in the outermost hole on the lever, get bigger gas shot that way hence more oommpphh
Sparky
Nice thought but I don't understand the logic
now, it sloooooowly creeps up to 180...takes about 20 minutes to get there. almost like the 'stat is letting the water flow constantly. i'll probably swap it out again this weekend. but, i've got a bad feeling it's not going to help the lack of 'zoom' my truck had before"
Sure sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.
"it's almost like it's not getting enough gas (i'll check the float level, like you mentioned). it doesn't hesitate at all, just takes a while to rev up. before, i couldn't shift the old 3-speed fast enough to keep up with it"
Is the accelorator pump linkage in the right hole? If you have it in the inside hole you won't get a big shot of gas. It should be in the outermost hole on the lever, get bigger gas shot that way hence more oommpphh
Sparky
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
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From: Comox Valley, Canada
thermostat/tuning problem?
Whoops! I think that should be linkage in the inner most hole for bigger gas shot not in the outer most.
Sparky
Sparky
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
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From: Brea CA
thermostat/tuning problem?
Sam, I don’t think the thermostat has anything to do with the lost “oomph.” As far as warming up, a closed 180-degree thermostat acts the same as a closed 195-degree unit until it begins to open up. I run a 160-degree unit in the summer here in So.Cal. and it warms up very fast until the gauge reaches the white band. It runs just inside the white band and never goes past dead center on the hottest days while idling in gridlock. Your thermostat sounds defective, take it back and get a heavy-duty one. I always drill a hole in mine too and install it with the hole at the top. Older thermostats used to have a jiggle valve which would keep the hole clear. When you get another thermostat, test it in a pan of water on the stove with a thermometer. Slowly bring up the temperature while watching the temp. and valve. The valve should just crack open at the rated temperature and be fully open at 10 – 15 degrees above the rated temperature.
Barry
Barry
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
thermostat/tuning problem?
Just for general info I used to run a 192 winter for good heater and idle qualities and 185 summer. In the summer after a while it would go to 195 anyway. After a point the lower thermstat can't help anymore. With a four row radiator it never goes over 195.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
thermostat/tuning problem?
beartracks-
you were right...the butterflies aren't opening fully. how in the world did i manage to mess that up, and how do i go about fixing it?
the reason i was attempting to rebuild the carb is because the butterflies weren't quite closing, causing it to idle too high. now they're not opening enough...
on the rebuild, all i did was replace the gaskets, and the needle assembly in the bowl. didn't take anything major apart (or so i thought)
i'm sure i've gotten my money's worth out of the carb- but i'm putting off buying the edelbrock as long as i can...
thanks,
sam
you were right...the butterflies aren't opening fully. how in the world did i manage to mess that up, and how do i go about fixing it?
the reason i was attempting to rebuild the carb is because the butterflies weren't quite closing, causing it to idle too high. now they're not opening enough...
on the rebuild, all i did was replace the gaskets, and the needle assembly in the bowl. didn't take anything major apart (or so i thought)
i'm sure i've gotten my money's worth out of the carb- but i'm putting off buying the edelbrock as long as i can...
thanks,
sam
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
thermostat/tuning problem?
Rusty, it sort of sounds like the linkage is incorrect on the carb. Maybe the ball stud that the throttle hooks to is in the wrong hole. If there is a nother hole closer to the center line it might give you more movement.
Good luck.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Good luck.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
thermostat/tuning problem?
you guys should get a kick out of this- i found the problem.
i rebuilt the carb two weeks ago. as i was re-attaching the manual choke cable assembly, i dropped one of the two screws that holds it to the side of the carb. i crawled ALL OVER that engine with a flashlight, looking for it.
never found it. figured it bounced off the intake, and rolled down the back of the engine.
found it yesterday. it had gotten wedged between the carb body, and the choke cable assembly. and it was wedged tight enough, and in the perfect spot to keep the throttle from opening more than halfway.
i got a big laugh out of it- had been running the truck for two solid weeks, and the screw never fell out of it's hiding spot.
i rebuilt the carb two weeks ago. as i was re-attaching the manual choke cable assembly, i dropped one of the two screws that holds it to the side of the carb. i crawled ALL OVER that engine with a flashlight, looking for it.
never found it. figured it bounced off the intake, and rolled down the back of the engine.
found it yesterday. it had gotten wedged between the carb body, and the choke cable assembly. and it was wedged tight enough, and in the perfect spot to keep the throttle from opening more than halfway.
i got a big laugh out of it- had been running the truck for two solid weeks, and the screw never fell out of it's hiding spot.
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