Hi guys,
I checked numerous posts relative to starting issues, timing gears & chain, dizzy's,, ignition issues, starter solenoid, etc... but found nothing to answer my issues so here goes: It had been sitting since '97. Put new rear tank,, fuel sending unit & gauge & fuel pump on, put a little gas in carburetor, new battery & it started right up. The points burned up due to a faulty starter solenoid so, I replaced it. Put new points in but one of the hold down screw holes was stripped so, put a washer in with new points (they stayed in place but were a little loose. Next, New Master & wheel cylinders, stainless brake lines, hoses, new tires, & a 4 row racing radiator. Ran like a champ for several weeks then, shortly after cranking/starting up I descended down a small incline in a driveway & it stalled. Put in neutral & cranked/started right back up & ran solid & smooth on the next 10 miles. Stopped @ a red light & went dead again, neutral & cranked/started right up & got me home. Next day, it cranked/started right up & after driving 5+/- miles it began to stall & steam was coming from engine bay. Opened the hood & the top radiator hose was collapsed. At this point I ordered a new distributor & top radiator hose because I knew the loose points were an issue. Replaced the distributor & hose, got it as close to TDC as possible (the only marks I could find on my original harmonic balancer was "ATC" & about an inch away what looked like a "10"(?)). I drove it 65-75 mph at times going to parts store to get a timing light. After returning home & trying to exact the timing, I drove it around neighborhood 10+x's (after moving 1/16" to 1/8" to either side). During which point it suddenly wouldn't run at all it would only sit & spin/turn over. Thinking it was out of gas I put around 2 gallons in from my gas can & drove (sputtering all the way) to the store & it only held 9 gallons (13 gallon rear tank ONLY) so, obviously it wasn't out of gas). Got it back home & it was sluggish all the way but made it. Since then, it wouldn't stay cranked/running. Sometimes when slightly adjusting the distributor to either side it would stay cranked/running once out of 50 or so times for about 10 seconds & then go dead. Since that point, I have replaced the following & checking between every change made before going to the next: 1. Plugs (NO DIFFERENCE), 2. plug wires (NO DIFFERENCE) (Yes, the wires are in the right location), 3. distributor cap (NO DIFFERENCE), 4. rotor button (NO DIFFERENCE), 5. oil pressure gauge, 6. starter solenoid (initial install), 7. ignition (what a bi*ch putting that & the bezel back in), 8. the external aftermarket clear plastic fuel filter's paper filter on the inside was floating around so , I replaced it (NO DIFFERENCE), 9. replaced the factory fuel filter (brass tube) that connects to the carburetor (was literally full of brown rusty metal particles)(NO DIFFERENCE), 10. carburetor (Guaranteed Carburetors)(NO DIFFERENCE), 11. finally heavy duty (racing) timing gears & chain (NO DIFFERENCE), 12. replaced gasket on LH valve cover that was not reusable after pulling cover off to check valves (Yesterday), & 13. replaced the dual vacuum lines from the dizzy to the carburetor (Yesterday)!!!!!! Yes, it is Top Dead Center & rotor button is pointing directly at the #1 plug wire. Tuesday, I pulled the LH valve cover & while a buddy would turn the ignition I checked the valves & all are in working order going up & down 1/4"-1/2"! I absolutely have NO IDEA what to do next & neither does any of the 5-6 guys that have been in & out throughout the debacle!!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS MYSTERY!!!... To recap, after putting new distributor on it ran 65-75 mph but would sputter on initial acceleration, then began getting worse & finally would only turn over but will not crank/start/run & idle. I have replaced everything I know to that would have anything to do with starting & idling & it will turn over but will NOT run @ all (even with putting gas or Seafoam directly into carburetor)! Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated before I go broke with nothing to show for it! Two of my friends will be here in about 2 hrs. to assist with anything that we can try!
I checked numerous posts relative to starting issues, timing gears & chain, dizzy's,, ignition issues, starter solenoid, etc... but found nothing to answer my issues so here goes: It had been sitting since '97. Put new rear tank,, fuel sending unit & gauge & fuel pump on, put a little gas in carburetor, new battery & it started right up. The points burned up due to a faulty starter solenoid so, I replaced it. Put new points in but one of the hold down screw holes was stripped so, put a washer in with new points (they stayed in place but were a little loose. Next, New Master & wheel cylinders, stainless brake lines, hoses, new tires, & a 4 row racing radiator. Ran like a champ for several weeks then, shortly after cranking/starting up I descended down a small incline in a driveway & it stalled. Put in neutral & cranked/started right back up & ran solid & smooth on the next 10 miles. Stopped @ a red light & went dead again, neutral & cranked/started right up & got me home. Next day, it cranked/started right up & after driving 5+/- miles it began to stall & steam was coming from engine bay. Opened the hood & the top radiator hose was collapsed. At this point I ordered a new distributor & top radiator hose because I knew the loose points were an issue. Replaced the distributor & hose, got it as close to TDC as possible (the only marks I could find on my original harmonic balancer was "ATC" & about an inch away what looked like a "10"(?)). I drove it 65-75 mph at times going to parts store to get a timing light. After returning home & trying to exact the timing, I drove it around neighborhood 10+x's (after moving 1/16" to 1/8" to either side). During which point it suddenly wouldn't run at all it would only sit & spin/turn over. Thinking it was out of gas I put around 2 gallons in from my gas can & drove (sputtering all the way) to the store & it only held 9 gallons (13 gallon rear tank ONLY) so, obviously it wasn't out of gas). Got it back home & it was sluggish all the way but made it. Since then, it wouldn't stay cranked/running. Sometimes when slightly adjusting the distributor to either side it would stay cranked/running once out of 50 or so times for about 10 seconds & then go dead. Since that point, I have replaced the following & checking between every change made before going to the next: 1. Plugs (NO DIFFERENCE), 2. plug wires (NO DIFFERENCE) (Yes, the wires are in the right location), 3. distributor cap (NO DIFFERENCE), 4. rotor button (NO DIFFERENCE), 5. oil pressure gauge, 6. starter solenoid (initial install), 7. ignition (what a bi*ch putting that & the bezel back in), 8. the external aftermarket clear plastic fuel filter's paper filter on the inside was floating around so , I replaced it (NO DIFFERENCE), 9. replaced the factory fuel filter (brass tube) that connects to the carburetor (was literally full of brown rusty metal particles)(NO DIFFERENCE), 10. carburetor (Guaranteed Carburetors)(NO DIFFERENCE), 11. finally heavy duty (racing) timing gears & chain (NO DIFFERENCE), 12. replaced gasket on LH valve cover that was not reusable after pulling cover off to check valves (Yesterday), & 13. replaced the dual vacuum lines from the dizzy to the carburetor (Yesterday)!!!!!! Yes, it is Top Dead Center & rotor button is pointing directly at the #1 plug wire. Tuesday, I pulled the LH valve cover & while a buddy would turn the ignition I checked the valves & all are in working order going up & down 1/4"-1/2"! I absolutely have NO IDEA what to do next & neither does any of the 5-6 guys that have been in & out throughout the debacle!!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS MYSTERY!!!... To recap, after putting new distributor on it ran 65-75 mph but would sputter on initial acceleration, then began getting worse & finally would only turn over but will not crank/start/run & idle. I have replaced everything I know to that would have anything to do with starting & idling & it will turn over but will NOT run @ all (even with putting gas or Seafoam directly into carburetor)! Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated before I go broke with nothing to show for it! Two of my friends will be here in about 2 hrs. to assist with anything that we can try!