The roadster pickup hasn't been on the road for a while,
and a couple days ago it was time to give it some attention,
as it went from not running right to just not running.
I went back to my VW days and start with a simple tune-up.
Yeah I was into VW's and it was a great 101 in learning basic mechanics.
A simple static timing light is crucial and where the heck did mine go?
In those bug/bus days,
all that was needed were a 10mm & 13mm wrenches, flat screwdriver, feeler gauges,
and one of these lights.
Here's a quick photo series - "how to make a timing light".
If you make one check if the bulb works before you tape it up!
Now hook the alligator clip to the (-) connection on the coil,
and hold the bulb to any ground,
then spin the crank til it hits the TDC button.
Back and forth until the light hits on the pulley nub.
Easy!
I may be wrong,
but I don't think it's important if the nub is hitting the 1 or 6 cylinder,
since each plug is firing every 2 rotations,
the spark timing position is the same.
Everything changes when it's running with the mechanical advance,
but at least there is a base to work with.
After all that it still wouldn't start.
Yes I checked if there was fuel!
Had to be the condenser.
These old Mallory distributors have these cool huge condensers.
There was one on another dizzy that was lying around,
and yessss it started.
Still didn't run that great though but it was back to life.
I read that most ford condensers are the same,
so I'm thinking of using the newer small style,
then digging out the old condenser and gluing in the new one,
since it's all about looks!
I cut up an old dead condenser thinking it was full of some magical fluid,
and all that's in there is a little copper battery.
That's about as far as I got and Chief turned into a pumpkin for another day.
TP
and a couple days ago it was time to give it some attention,
as it went from not running right to just not running.
 |
| timing light |
I went back to my VW days and start with a simple tune-up.
Yeah I was into VW's and it was a great 101 in learning basic mechanics.
 |
| static timing light |
A simple static timing light is crucial and where the heck did mine go?
In those bug/bus days,
all that was needed were a 10mm & 13mm wrenches, flat screwdriver, feeler gauges,
and one of these lights.
 |
| static timing light |
Here's a quick photo series - "how to make a timing light".
If you make one check if the bulb works before you tape it up!
 |
| checking flathead timing |
Now hook the alligator clip to the (-) connection on the coil,
and hold the bulb to any ground,
then spin the crank til it hits the TDC button.
Back and forth until the light hits on the pulley nub.
Easy!
I may be wrong,
but I don't think it's important if the nub is hitting the 1 or 6 cylinder,
since each plug is firing every 2 rotations,
the spark timing position is the same.
Everything changes when it's running with the mechanical advance,
but at least there is a base to work with.
 |
| various 6-volt condensers |
After all that it still wouldn't start.
Yes I checked if there was fuel!
Had to be the condenser.
These old Mallory distributors have these cool huge condensers.
There was one on another dizzy that was lying around,
and yessss it started.
Still didn't run that great though but it was back to life.
 |
| insides of a condenser |
I read that most ford condensers are the same,
so I'm thinking of using the newer small style,
then digging out the old condenser and gluing in the new one,
since it's all about looks!
I cut up an old dead condenser thinking it was full of some magical fluid,
and all that's in there is a little copper battery.
 |
| hot rod or pumpkin? |
That's about as far as I got and Chief turned into a pumpkin for another day.
TP
No comments:
Post a Comment