RE: Progress report

[Rich Kinsley <rlkinsley@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for your input Dennis. I don't believe my words were exactly 
correct regarding to actual split second time. It was starting to sound 
a little "off" just prior and during the tightening. 

I have never had this backfire with "light colored" smoke, I'd say 
bluish, except after I filled up the tank and added the Lucas octane 
booster. I do believe the rockers adjusters may be loosening but I'm not 
real sure the fuel isn't contaminated whether it's the octane booster or 
something else. This is a new issue since that fill up. I have it 
diluted some now and will be able to dilute it some more shortly. 

The pushrods have been swapped during the adjustment. They are straight 
and the stock ones. I do have a fuel pressure gauge. It's the third one. 
I really don't trust them. They are notorious for not working right. 
This one says I'm running 5 to 6 psi. The last one would show zero fuel 
pressure one day and then 6psi the next day. All the time while running 
fine. It wasn't zero!

I will not give up. This is a challenge. This engine will run right 
before I step in any other direction.

I will check every possibility. I'm going to even pour some fuel in a 
container and see if anything settles out. Also a compression test and 
leak down. I do have a stock dist as a last resort but I feel the 
ignition system is working good finally. I'll check each wire with the 
timing light too. We'll have plenty of info when I'm done but it may 
take a few days. Batten the hatches we're going to war:-) 

Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies

====================================================================
Dennis C. wrote:
> 
> Rich,
> 
> I have been following your issues, sounds like it is getting very 
> frustrating.
> 
> You have been getting some very good suggestions, here are a couple of 
> mine.  These are probably duplicates and may not be of much help:
> 
> Very interesting that it starting having problems as the distributer was 
> 
> tightened.  If you can get it running again well enough to idle use the 
> timing light and check all spark plugs by moving the pickup to one wire 
> at a time.  What I look for is a nice steady flash on each wire, the 
> timing mark will not mean anything except on #1.
> 
> Do you have another distributer?  If so I would sway it in and really 
> check close to make sure you are not off a tooth on the distributer 
> gear. I would do everything possible to eliminate ignition problems 
> before looking at anything else.
> 
> You said it seemed to load up. I am not able to manage a single carb, 
> much less 2 and if I recall you have 2 - 4b carbs.  Do you have access 
> to an Air/Fuel meter or have you considered purchasing one?  I was 
> having trouble with my 4b carb and managed to get myself lost in jetting 
> 
> and such.  I finally purchased a unit from Innovate.  As it turned out I 
> 
> was close to having it right but it was really nice to actually see the 
> numbers and see the results when I made changes.
> 
> I am not discounting the problem being lifters, push rods or rockers but 
> 
> when you check the lash again if they have not changed sure sounds like 
> electrical or fuel.
> 
> One last thing, do you have a fuel pressure gauge installed?  If not you 
> 
> may want to consider one.  If you want to see fuel pressure in the car 
> go with an electric gauge, more expensive but safe.
> 
> If you want to see a chart from my air/fuel meter let me know and I can 
> send one directly to you.
> 
> Good Luck
> Dennis C.
> 
> 
> Rich Kinsley wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies
> > 
> > OK, I got all my valves set to cam specs, .014" I and E cold. I got it 
> > all back together and fired it up. It started great and the idle was 
> > much smoother. I checked the timing w/o vac hook-ed up and it is close 
> > to 14deg btdc. With vac it goes about 16/17 btdc. I idled it for quite a 
> > 
> > 
> > long time and it stayed right dead on perfect temperature. I put a vac 
> > gauge on the driverside vac port of my rear Eddy and the vac runs about 
> > 12 to 14+. I adjusted the idle screws and got the vac and rpms ore 
> > stable and it was about 14+ on the vac with a slight downward wobble.
> > 
> > Then while I was tightening the dist. all of a sudden it started to spit 
> > 
> > 
> > and cough. It backfired bluish smoke out both carbs and dieseled to a 
> > stop. What in the world? The temp was still perfect. It did start but 
> > not right away. Then it idled well but started popping a little when I 
> > raised the rpm to up about 3K.
> > 
> > I'm going to pull the valve covers again and recheck the valves. I 
> > suspect that the adjusters are loosening. I have a spare set of stock 
> > heads so I can swap the rocker parts. Is the adjuster screw able to be 
> > removed and replaced? Is there a longer adjuster screw available that 
> > you can put an extra nut on to lock in the adjustment?
> > 
> > One of these days I'll get it figured out! Thanks for your help too.
> 
> 
> 
> 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Conversion
> 1964 Plymouth Belvedere 318 Auto
> 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury 383 4-speed
> 1949 Dodge Pickup 289/C4 soon to be changed
> 1998 Honda Valkyrie Standard



Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies


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