Troubled 390
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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Troubled 390
I am working on a '73 Ford F-100 with a 390FE and have had trouble getting it to start after a points replacement. I had trouble with the carburetor and when a friend of mine came over and helped me get it running and adjust timing he noticed that the points were bad and in need of replacing. So after I replaced the points it will not fire. It starts to turn but cannot get the motor to fire. I replaced the starter solenoid and ignition coil and still no luck. I also noticed a leak at the fuel pump, the line that runs from the pump to carb? Any help would be appreaciated.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Is the leaky fuel line rubber? It is on mine. Just replace the hose and make sure it is secure.
As for the points fmc400 has good questions. Are the plug wires tight? Sometimes they get a bit loose when messing w/ the distributor cap.
As for the points fmc400 has good questions. Are the plug wires tight? Sometimes they get a bit loose when messing w/ the distributor cap.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Try cleaning the points, quite often after sitting in stock for a while, the contacts get an oxidized coating on them. This acts as an insulator and the coil won't fire.
They used to make point files for this purpose but they are probably hard to find today. Try using either an emery board or very fine sandpaper. Clean both contact surfaces. After you clean them with the abrasive clean them again by rubbing a piece of paper between them, this will get rid of any abrasive particles left, then double check the gap.
They used to make point files for this purpose but they are probably hard to find today. Try using either an emery board or very fine sandpaper. Clean both contact surfaces. After you clean them with the abrasive clean them again by rubbing a piece of paper between them, this will get rid of any abrasive particles left, then double check the gap.
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Junior User
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Troubled 390
to respond to fmc400 i replaced the ignition coil and starter solenoid, but now that i think on it when i crank it over, the starter seems really noisy. Could it be the starter going out?
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From: Western N.C.
I agree with Mike...clean the points well, then double check the gap.
If it's still a no-go, just go back and carefully review everything you did. Be patient, check one thing at a time, one step at a time. It may be as simple as a broken wire (this has been rather common on mine, as the wires get brittle and don't like to move in a different way than they have for the last 36 years).
Above all, don't just assume that it is something else that has gone wrong...that's how these projects get unneccessarily expensive!
Finally, if all else fails, get your friend back over to the house and see if he can figure it out. After all, this was his idea.
Plus, it gives you an excuse to sit back and share a six pack when it finally cranks!
If it's still a no-go, just go back and carefully review everything you did. Be patient, check one thing at a time, one step at a time. It may be as simple as a broken wire (this has been rather common on mine, as the wires get brittle and don't like to move in a different way than they have for the last 36 years).
Above all, don't just assume that it is something else that has gone wrong...that's how these projects get unneccessarily expensive!
Finally, if all else fails, get your friend back over to the house and see if he can figure it out. After all, this was his idea.
Plus, it gives you an excuse to sit back and share a six pack when it finally cranks!