Need help with my flaty...Is it possible that engine may have "jumped time" or have a bad distributor...or bad plug wires. Engine had been very hard to start, after sitting all winter. When it started, Super rich black smoke every where, and engine just roars up and dies down at Idle, gas seeped into the crankase, after runing it a while in this rough running condition. I"ve had this flatty since 1997 and know it well. But this time I'm stumped. Since this problem occured, I have: Replaced carburetor with a FACTORYnew carb from MAC's, all new fuel filters, new dist. cap, rotor, points condensor. Drained crankcase and changed all oil and filters.

COULD THE SPARK PLUG WIRES[ 13 YEARS OLD] BE GROUNDING OUT SO BAD TO MAKE IT RUN AS IF IT JUMPED TIME? iT IS NOT BACK FIRING, BUT JUST REVS UP & DOWN AT IDLE POORING BLACK SMOKE OUT EXHAUST.

COULD BAD GAS/WATER IN GAS DO THIS?

I have yet to check timing will do SAT [put #1 piston up to TDC on comp. stroke & make sure rotor is at #1 pos on distributor]
PS I have noticed distributor shaft moves up & down about a full 1/8" or more! Any advise apreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

Have you tried turning the distrubutor head back or forth?

 

todays gas does not stand the test of time sitting without a good fuel additive for support. this could be part of the problem. if your wires are 13 years old, how old are plugs? did you change these? if you know fuel pump is good, try running temporary line to a good, clean, fresh container of gas. (after you change those plugs) might just clear up the problem.

 

Thanks guys...I connected fuel line to a fresh gas supply, but still rev'n & stallin.
Pulled #1 plug checked compression of just #1 =50#[book says 120#] got it to TDC on compresion strke, checked dist. rotor location+not good, rotor should be at #1 plug about 7 oclock pos, but rotor was at about 10 oclock. I pulled dizzy and re set[rotor at # 1 plug on cap] would not start at all had one small pop back-fire. What say you...looks like timming gears shot...valves open on compression stroke?
Got extremely cold out and called it quits. I've yet to line up timming mark on damper to pointer and make sure #1 piston and rotor are where they should be. TO BE CONTINUED WHEN SPRING HITS OHIO!

Later that evening while going over the 51 ford shop manual....There is a distributor drive gear that is "pressed" on the camshaft and just secured with a bolt, not keyed...COULD THIS GEAR HAVED TURNED OR CHIPPED? [For rebuild, book states to replaced if worn or chippped]

 

get everything for timing lined up, drop in dizzy, see what you have. sounds like you might be opening her up.

 

Looks that way petey...will let all flatheaders know my results in future posts.

 

Well it is Saturday again... PROGRESS...still have a no start low compression situation!

Plenty of spark checked it CORRECTLY this time...NICE HOT BLUE SPARK on pulled #1 plug!

Timming : #1 cyl up to TDC on compression stroke. timing pointer DOES NOT line up with timing mark on crank pulley. I HAVE Dist. rotor lined up with #1 plugwire in cap [POINTS JUST START TO OPEN]
Will not start, I did get a pop and a little firing.... camshaft timing gear must have sliped or is jumping time...NEXT WEEK WILL PULL TIMING COVER!

Futher compression checkng shows as follows: left[passenger] side head: #1=50lbs, #3=50lbs Right[driver side] head #5=40lbs.

I stopped checking, didn't want to fill crankcase up with gas [again after changing out oil]

I even checked the points gap with the dizzy out to make sure gap is right on the money .016" before putting it back in. Also, check dizzy for any broken roll pins/ shaft/ gear for any slipping...only has about 1/32" up/down shaft movement.

GOT TO PULL TIMING COVER NEXT /INSPECT GEARS/TIMING MARKS

 

whats happening ? how are timing gears

 

FlatheadBentCAM.mpg - YouTube


I GOT TIMING COVER OFF TODAY...bad news, CLICK ON VIDEO LINK ABOVE TO SEE MY CAMSHAFT MOVE IN & OUT WHEN CRANKED!



What can cause this? A bent camshaft? I can't seem to push or pull camgear in or out, though I did not use any force.

I hate like to have to replace camshaft! Any Ideas. You sure can tell by the way the distributor drive gear runs out/in & out that's why its not right. Also, you can see my White painted timing marks are lined up. The teeth on ALL gears are perfect, no chips whatsoever!

 

If you've had it that flooded the cylinders are washed dry, remove the plugs and put a little oil in the cyls, thay will bring your compression up, and then if its in time, it will start. And there is nothing wrong with your cam, the timing cover keeps the cam from walking when its installed.

 

F5Fordgirl...Thanks for the info, I have the 51 Ford manual and it does say that that boss inside the timing cover is a support for camshaft/dist drive gear. WOW that sure relieves me of tearing apart the the engine for a a camshaft. All the gears look like NEW, and the timing marks are aligned.

But, I'm back to square 1! I got to try some oil in the cyls for enough commpression to get it started. I have to get it timed up corrrect and try starting AGAIN...Next Saturday looks like!

 

Petey: Timing gears look like new and marks are lined up...

EGAD GADZOOKS...I FOUND THE PROBLEM...BAD DISTRIBUTOR! Advance mechanism completetly worn out! When engine started vacuum would fully pull the advance and cut spark out. I put in a re-man distributor and she runs like new!

i ALSO WOULD HIGHLY RECOMEND ROCKAUTO FOR THIS AUTOLINE REMAN DIZZY...all MADE IN USA PARTS gone into i FORD CAP/ROTOR!

 

I put a dual point dist. in a v8 flat head . I set the timming by hear and the way it starts and run ..it starts and runs great .. but running hot and spitting out when turned off. rad. was worked 2 new water pumps and thermosatats.. could timing be off ??? to cause this??