91 Bronco not running
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91 Bronco not running
I got a 91 Bronco with the 5.0 motor. Sat for about a year. It is not running now. Has new spark plugs, wires and distributor. I am getting spark and fuel. The previous owner said it jumped time and he replaced the timing chain and said that everything was lined up right when he installed it. It also needed new fuel pump and the distributor lined up. But he never got around to it. I installed the new fuel pump and it primes when i turn the key. I have been trying to get the distributor timing down but it won't start. I sprayed a little bit of fuel into the intake and got a loud pop and flame out of the intake. I thought the motor was cranking kind of slow so I put a new starter in but is still cranks about the same and i dont have anything else to compare it to. This is my first project. I have also been using new batteries. What am I doing wrong? What else do i need to check for before I open it up and check the chain and valve timing myself just to make sure the previous owner got it right? This is the method i used to set the distributor
FullSizeBronco.com - 78 - 96 Ford Bronco offroad club, forums, tech, installs
FullSizeBronco.com - 78 - 96 Ford Bronco offroad club, forums, tech, installs
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: So Cal/Mexico
My first bit of advice is to verify that the dizzy was re-installed in the proper location, and that your timing gets corrected and set properly. Just being one tooth off on the dizzy will drive you nuts, and being way too far towards either BTDC or ATDC won't allow your engine to fire up........
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
Bring the motor to tdc on cylinder 1. you can check this by pulling the spark plug and gently using a screw driver to feel for the piston or having your finger over the plug hole and gently bump the starter relay just make sure the rig is in park/Neutral and E brake is on. once this is done pull the dizzy cap and see where the rotor is pointing. I suspect the previous owner has the dizzy 180* out.
i hope you put fresh fuel in the tank, and should also replace the fuel filter.
i hope you put fresh fuel in the tank, and should also replace the fuel filter.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,987
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From: Boise, Idaho
My first bit of advice is to verify that the dizzy was re-installed in the proper location, and that your timing gets corrected and set properly. Just being one tooth off on the dizzy will drive you nuts, and being way too far towards either BTDC or ATDC won't allow your engine to fire up........
I missed that step when installing my distributor, and it backfired, bucked, hissed, and puff smoke out of the distributor and about had me pulling my hair out. That must be lined up correctly for everything to work.
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ok finally got it running. this motor hasn't ran in a year. there is a tapping noise when it is running though. Is this a bent valve? I also notice oil in the air box
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Boise, Idaho
How loud is the tapping? Could be a sticking lifter. Now that it's running, I'd run some good cleaner through the crank case and change the oil again. Could have some gunk in there.
As for oil in the airbox, is it excessive? If it's a small amount, it may just be the PCV system. Change the PCV valve and put in new breather element.
What finally got it running?
As for oil in the airbox, is it excessive? If it's a small amount, it may just be the PCV system. Change the PCV valve and put in new breather element.
What finally got it running?
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How loud is the tapping? Could be a sticking lifter. Now that it's running, I'd run some good cleaner through the crank case and change the oil again. Could have some gunk in there.
As for oil in the airbox, is it excessive? If it's a small amount, it may just be the PCV system. Change the PCV valve and put in new breather element.
What finally got it running?
As for oil in the airbox, is it excessive? If it's a small amount, it may just be the PCV system. Change the PCV valve and put in new breather element.
What finally got it running?
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I ran some cleaner through the motor and changed the oil and filter and the ticking went away. I still need to time it with a light though because its running rough. I'm also getting white smoke coming from the breather tube that goes to the air box. what could this be from?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2004
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The white smoke might be left over cleaner boiling off. You should be able to time the engine by ear. Remove the spout connection while you time it and put it back after.
If it's not able to smooth out then it might be a vacuum leak.
If it's not able to smooth out then it might be a vacuum leak.
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well im gonna pull intake manifold and valve covers off to see what it looks like under there. I had problems getting it started again today and when it did it seemed like it was't running on all cylinders. cylinder 1-4 the plugs turned brown and the 5-8 were still white when I pulled them. I checked and it was getting spark to all cylinders.
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pulled the valve covers and everything looked good except there was about a half inch of harden oil. so I clean it up pretty good. I pulled the intake manifold and the bold that is on the inside the hard one to get to was missing probably because they busted the hole that the bolt goes thru. so im headin to the junk yard next weekend.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Boise, Idaho
Sounds like you're moving right along. From my experience, be glad you're finding issues. It sucks having a problem with your engine and you can't find anything wrong. Everything you're finding so far is fixable. 
Sounds like once it's all patched up, it needs some good, hard driving to get all the gunk cleaned out of it.
Sounds like once it's all patched up, it needs some good, hard driving to get all the gunk cleaned out of it.