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Weird Issue With the GT

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Mickey Richaud

Mickey Richaud

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Placing this here to get the most bang:

OK - on the 3.4 conversion with Edelbrock manifold, Holley 390, mild cam, Jeff Schlemmer distributor with new cap and plug wires, MSD coil: Beginning to get it sorted out before finally putting it on the road and getting the exhaust system on it. Pulled the spark plugs to check them, and #1 and #2 are fairly sooty; #3 looks OK; 4, 5, and 6 look like they've barely fired! Idle is pretty good - just a bit lopey; revs very easily; smooths out above 1500 rpm.

What's up with the spark plugs? Any thoughts? For those unfamiliar with the engine, the firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6, and cylinders are odd on passenger's side, even on driver's, starting at the front of the car.

Thanks,
Mickey
 
First, I'd set the idle at about 1200 or so and pull one plug wire off at a time.
Obviously, use an ~insulated spark plug pliers~ .
It will help if you make sure you can remove the wires with the pliers when the engine isn't running before doing this.

See if RPM drop is equal in all cylinders.

Maybe switch plugs (and wires) around after that and see if things have changed.

A compression test and valve adjustment may be in order next.

I bet a lot of people are surprised at that firing order (I was), but Google says it's right.

If all else fails, re-install "correct" engine. :jester:
 
Thanks, Nial - will check on some of that today.

The spark plug wires are very snugly attached. Really have to pull hard to remove them - very substantial boots on 'em.

Yeah - firing order is strange.

And after all this work, no way is the "correct" engine going in there!
 
DNK said:
Magnecore wires?
Click to expand...

Belden silicone wires from NAPA.

I just went out and hooked the timing light to each plug wire in turn. Was getting erratic to no spark on some of the cylinders. Retarded the timing a bit and now they're all firing. Vacuum gauge right at 17 at 850 rpm, so I think it's good to go. Hard to tell with no exhaust system yet.

Man this thing revs quick!
 
Mickey Richaud said:
DNK said:
Magnecore wires?
Click to expand...

Belden silicone wires from NAPA.

I just went out and hooked the timing light to each plug wire in turn. Was getting erratic to no spark on some of the cylinders. Retarded the timing a bit and now they're all firing. Vacuum gauge right at 17 at 850 rpm, so I think it's good to go. Hard to tell with no exhaust system yet.

Man this thing revs quick!
Click to expand...

62 years of age and still firing on all cylinders - you can't ask for more than that!
grin.gif
 
Goodonya, Bro!!!

I just scrubbed up after replacing a motor mount in Diesela. Ya'd think I'd just spent a week in a coal mine. <span style="font-style: italic">NASTY</span> dirty Diesela! And th' Germans typically took a simple mount design and made it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to R&R. What should be a twenty minute job took a couple hours. 1/8 of a turn at a time on an Allen head bolt, hidden behind and under a bunch of other bits.
Ya can either see it or touch it, but not both at the same time. :wall:
 
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