advice on my '54
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Central PA
advice on my '54
As many of you guys know, since many of you have given me good advice over the last several months, my truck is running but does not run well at higher rpms.
The timing has been set, the carb rebuilt. The last advice I got was to look down the carb and give it throttle to see if the accelerator pump is working. There are 2 jests of gas that come out. They are not solid forceful jets but it is more than a dribble. My BIL, who has also been coaching me through this via the phone, says that should be OK. He says the accelerator pump is for the first shot of gas for rapid acceleration. He asked when was the last time I replaced the plugs... I am not sure... And it is a cheap fix. $2.19 at Advance Auto for 14mm plugs.
So, what plugs are you using? This is for my '54 OHV 239 Y-block with Pertronix ignition. If this doesn't improve performance then I will take it to a local old garage to check the valves.
If that
The timing has been set, the carb rebuilt. The last advice I got was to look down the carb and give it throttle to see if the accelerator pump is working. There are 2 jests of gas that come out. They are not solid forceful jets but it is more than a dribble. My BIL, who has also been coaching me through this via the phone, says that should be OK. He says the accelerator pump is for the first shot of gas for rapid acceleration. He asked when was the last time I replaced the plugs... I am not sure... And it is a cheap fix. $2.19 at Advance Auto for 14mm plugs.
So, what plugs are you using? This is for my '54 OHV 239 Y-block with Pertronix ignition. If this doesn't improve performance then I will take it to a local old garage to check the valves.
If that
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,516
Likes: 401
From: W. Central FL.
A faulty accelerator pump will give you hesitation, stumbling off the line. Should not be an issue at road speed, except when you try to accelerate. You should see more than the dribbles, though. Have you checked the timing advance? If the advance diaphragm has not been replaced, that is a good thing to check. I run am running Champions in my 272 Y block. For a DD, plug brand won't make a nickles worth of difference, IMO.
Edit: Pull some plugs and post close up pictures.
And how long has it been since the plug wires were replaced?
Edit: Pull some plugs and post close up pictures.
And how long has it been since the plug wires were replaced?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,316
Likes: 893
From: Lititz PA
Abe, since I race, I change plug a lot. Autolite 26 , Bosch superplus 7919 is a hotter plug. More of the tip sticks into the combustion chamber. Right now there's AC C45L in the heads.Ran my best ever at Columbus labor day weekend.
I have the engine apart right now, at about 25,000 miles on the engine, there's a lot of slop in the timing chain. If you see your timing marks moving around with the timing light, your chain could be worn by now. Dennis
I have the engine apart right now, at about 25,000 miles on the engine, there's a lot of slop in the timing chain. If you see your timing marks moving around with the timing light, your chain could be worn by now. Dennis
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
I wouldn't go to a hotter plug on a street engine. Can't go wrong with Autolites.
Abe, what's the history on your engine? Was it rebuilt recently? Have you done a compression test on it recently?
What do you consider high speed? Could you be expecting too much of a relatively small engine?
Abe, what's the history on your engine? Was it rebuilt recently? Have you done a compression test on it recently?
What do you consider high speed? Could you be expecting too much of a relatively small engine?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,400
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From: Central PA
And how long has it been since the plug wires were replaced?
Plug wires and plugs were replaced about 3 years ago.
what's the history on your engine? Was it rebuilt recently? Have you done a compression test on it recently?
Engine was rebuilt in 1979 by the same guy that rebuilds Pinto Plumber's truck. My brother-in-law checked the compression 2 years ago. Some cylinders were a bit low but OK
What do you consider high speed? Higher speeds meaning higher rpms so I can shift into 3rd easily, so lets say about 35-45mph.
If you see your timing marks moving around with the timing light, your chain could be worn by nowThe timing marks did not jump around at all at idle. I think my timing chain is OK.
My fear is that the engine needs freshened up. I am not sure how many miles are on the rebuild. The odometer did not work when I rebuilt it in 79. It wasn't until 1999 when I fixed the truck up that I got a working speedo and odometer. If I only put 3000 miles on each year on average that would make it over 100,000 since the rebuild.
I will put new plugs in as they may be fouled and then take it to a local shop to see what they think and have them do a compression test.
Plug wires and plugs were replaced about 3 years ago.
what's the history on your engine? Was it rebuilt recently? Have you done a compression test on it recently?
Engine was rebuilt in 1979 by the same guy that rebuilds Pinto Plumber's truck. My brother-in-law checked the compression 2 years ago. Some cylinders were a bit low but OK
What do you consider high speed? Higher speeds meaning higher rpms so I can shift into 3rd easily, so lets say about 35-45mph.
If you see your timing marks moving around with the timing light, your chain could be worn by nowThe timing marks did not jump around at all at idle. I think my timing chain is OK.
My fear is that the engine needs freshened up. I am not sure how many miles are on the rebuild. The odometer did not work when I rebuilt it in 79. It wasn't until 1999 when I fixed the truck up that I got a working speedo and odometer. If I only put 3000 miles on each year on average that would make it over 100,000 since the rebuild.
I will put new plugs in as they may be fouled and then take it to a local shop to see what they think and have them do a compression test.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
My dads '55 quit running back in the late 90s. It could be started, but it sounded like it was about dead. When I got it up here from Nevada a few weeks ago, I fired it up, and started checking things. I tapped each section of exhaust manifold for heat differences. I found three cylinders that absolutely weren't firing, so I pulled the plugs. They looked like crap, so I put new ones in. It took care of the missing, and running like crap. Well, a bit later, it was doing the same thing again. The plugs were already fouling out. That tells me, that the engine is in need of a rebuild. When I tore the truck down, I opened the engine. Yep, evidence of worn valve guides, seals, and compression loss through the rings. Personally, if you had low compression a few years ago, and you've put miles on it since, it's time to rebuild. Change the plugs, and it'll likely clear up, but I'd still get it rebuilt.
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