Re: [FWDLK] 56 plymouth starting trouble FIXED!

[David Homstad <Dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Glenn,

Don't forget to check the dwell and timing, as they are affected whenever
points are replaced. A quick dwell check every few thousand miles will catch
worn points before they go this bad again.

For those pesky points screws, I use a magnetic screwdriver or an old one I
have that has an expanding tip that grips the slot of the screw. Haven't
dropped one since.

Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500

-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of 56plymouth@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 7:07 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] 56 plymouth starting trouble FIXED!

it was the points! or maybe the rotor. I replaced both and my plymouth
started right up! I may swap out the rotor to see, but maybe not. the points
were black with carbon and the little bumper thing that moves against the
rotating thingy in the center of the distributor (try to stay with me as I
get real technical!) was pretty worn down as well. the best $4.02 I have
spent!

I believe I neglected to mention that the carb was getting fuel...we could
see that. a useful tidbit I just forgot to type. and I attached the original
email so this message makes sense in the future...like on a forwardlook
search.

be sure to have a needle-nose-something handy as the screws have a tendency
to seek refuge deep inside the distributor...as they jumped from hands, not
once, but twice!

thanks for the advice, as always.
...and happy thanksgiving!

    ...glenn.

                       . . .  -  . . .
     glenn.a.lagasse: : : : : : : : : : :boy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
                   . . . . . . . . . . . .
     .1956.Plymouth.Belvedere.4-door.Hardtop.Sport.Sedan.
     [. . . .  <http://meandher.com/sweetride/>  . . . .]
                          . . + . .



on 11/19/01 5:21 PM, 56plymouth@xxxxxxxxxxxx at [plymouth@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
pecked:

> my plymouth belvedere has had some starting problems as of late, that I
> assumed were related to the changed carburator of about 6 weeks ago. the
car
> would start up fine from a cold start, but after driving it for a while,
> stopping it, it would not. I could hold the key hearing the engine turn
over
> until finally, sometimes 30 seconds or so, the car would spring to life. I
> thought, perhaps a carburator issue?
>
> then a few days ago, the car began sputtering, even at high speeds (not
> jerking, but I could tell the engine was not running smooth) and it seemed
> to me it was a fuel delivery problem, and I again thought the carburator.
> but I don't know much about cars. it would even stall after driving on the
> highway for an hour, once I came to a stop at an intersection or what have
> you. then the final blow came after three days of irregular engine
running,
> the car stalled for the final time, and would not come back to life. the
> engine turns over, but the car won't start. in the days prior it was
> stalling, to such an extent that I put it in neutral to keep from konking
> out at stop lights.
>
> so, following my suspicion, I swapped back to the previous carburator to
no
> avail (this old one was removed for no other reason than me having a brand
> new one to try out). we swapped the coil and ballast resistor (basically
> brand new ones my friend was using in his 56 dodge) and still the engine
> would not turn over.
>
> we then tried to see if there was any sort of spark, by pulling the cable
> from a spark plug and seeing if that would spark. nothing, or very little
at
> times. then, we tried removing the main wire from the center of the
> distributor cap that is connected to the coil to see if that was sparking
at
> all, and that was very little or nothing at all. (on the 56 dodge these
> tests produced spark showers) so, my friend was thinking that it was an
> electrical problem, and that we should go directly from the 12 volt
battery
> to the ballast resistor (to bypass any potential wiring issues) to see if
we
> could get a spark when I tried to start the car, and we still got nothing.
>
> today, I tried to get clean off the distributor points, and the rotor, as
> this was another suggestion from a gearhead friend of mine. this also did
> not work, but I'm getting new ones tomorrow anyway. as well as a
condensor.
>
> so now my car is dead on the side of the road, just before it's winter
nap.
>
> any ideas?
>
> thanks in advance.
>
>                      . . .  -  . . .
>    glenn.a.lagasse: : : : : : : : : : :boy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>                  . . . . . . . . . . . .
>    .1956.Plymouth.Belvedere.4-door.Hardtop.Sport.Sedan.
>    [. . . .  <http://meandher.com/sweetride/>  . . . .]
>                         . . + . .