Okay, long story- kinda. I had to put a cylinder head on my 72 2.0 wagon. I got it back together and she ran excellent. Then, I came home from work the other night- was still running awesome. Next morning I jumped in and it ran like hell- missing, spitting and sputtering. Here is what I've done so far- to no avail. Cap, rotor, wires, points, condenser is on order (no one stocks a damn thing for this car/engine), rebuilt the carb, new fuel pump, clean fuel filter, back-blow fuel tank through lines, ran hot wire to positive side of coil, tried different coil, checked/clean plugs (carbon fouled[which is why I rebuilt the carb] and some deposits- valve stem seals need replaced). I am wondering if the head gasket went- don't have compression tester, yet.
Any suggestions, or should I start loading my 12 gauge?
:wow:
Well I would consider the carbon fouling as your priority suspect and the only way to clean carbon fouled plugs is with glass beading. I suggest your engine has been running rich and got to the point where a choked soak down with fuel finally shorted them out...or it out. This would indicate missing,spitting and sputtering. A miss is a bad plug or wire. A sputter is lack of fuel or air or incorrect valve adjustment or a vaccuum leak. A spit is a bad valve or incorrect timing set. A miss, spit and sputter is a fouled plug or bad condencer. Remenber if it runs one day and not the next....it is something easy. Put that gun away and get that puppy running because you need to drive it to one of the regional meets next year.
High_Horse
...so I said "hell, why not throw it on." (I said that to the voice in my head that wanted the 12ga.) High_Horse you are THE man! Your condenser comment was on target- which was better than using my 12ga. Of course, having special ordered DAMN NEAR EVERY PART ALREADY, the one that hadn't made it in yet was the condenser!!!!- AutoZone s u c k s ! 7.99 and a day short!
Thank god....I was going to call 911 or Pintony.
High_Horse
Somehow??
I missed this topic???
What did you do?
Tighten the condinser screw??
From Pintony
I replaced the condenser- it finally arrived. I have in the past noticed a spark dancing around the condenser hold down screw, which was re-tightened of course. I now have a new ignition system (except for the distruptutor), a rebuilt carb, an NOS Ford fuel pump, a freshly flushed fuel tank, and a new found knowledge and respect for what a tiny little $6 part can do to a points ignition. I wouldn't have had this problem if Pertronix actually worked on this damn car for more than 2 weeks at a time.
I can now open up all the windows, including the newly not-leaking sunroof, and go for a cruise this weekend. I am amazed at how much attention this little puddle jumper gets.
Thanks again for the pointers!