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Ignition trouble

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danielnorton

danielnorton

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I decided to do a tune up this weekend, changed the plugs, points and condenser (not wires available locally) Now the car is have trouble starting and while it idols smoothly, when I rev up to 2000/2500, I lose power and get some backfires.. thinking I'll recheck the gap on the plugs and points, any other suggestions?
 
Dan, check the timing, and set the points with a dwell meter, if you can. Did you have the distributor out to change the points?
Jeff
 
No dwell meter on hand, might have to get one though (anything for new tools lol) I did not remove the distributer, could I still have messed up the timing? Everythinbg was running pretty well before, so I think the timing was ok.
 
did you change the air filters? Check to make sure the back plates are not upside down. There are vent holes that line up with the carbs.....
 
Are you saying you didn't recheck the timing after replacing the points? If not, you really need to do that. In theory, if you got the point gap exactly the same as it was before, and the points were perfectly identical to the old ones, you wouldn't have to. But that never happens in the real world.
 
Did you double check to make sure the wires didn't get crossed and that the rotor(and distributor cap) are fully seated and secure?
 
I didn't change the air filters, though I did top off the dash pot oil. I'll recheck the rotor and cap, but they seemed to be on correctly.
I'll recheck the points and then the timing, This will be my first timing check, so wish me luck /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif I don't have a timing light, so I'm hoping that checking the static timing should be good enough to get me running again ?
 
You got to have a timeing light to do it right and get it right. Start down the block and ask at each door, someone has one.
 
Turns out I had the washer in the wrong place on the points, switched it up and good to go. I will be picking up a timing light for sure and checking the timing next time I'm back in town. Funny how little things can really though you off.

Thanks again for all the help, It's goo to know you guys are out there when I am at a loss.
 
What's weird is that the symptoms are similar to what mine were a week or so ago.. My problem was a faulty (new!) distributor cap.

So what was the right order for the washer on the points?

My original points had a metal 'bolt' holding the condenser and coil wires to the points. The new points I got at O'Reilly Auto Parts had a plastic 'bolt'. So I guess there might have been a way to put things on wrong and not get any spark. Or perhaps even a spark jumping at that connection.
 
Well done as well. Always nice to solve your own problems. The board lets you get a bit of opinion or at least other folks get you thinking in ways you had not.
 
the proper order was ignition wire, condenser wire then the nylon washer- then bolt. I had the washer between ignition and condenser.

I was also surprised to get a spark in that order, though I am glad it was a simple thing.
 
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