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ignition problem -1966 pontiac lemans

Hello all-

I am having some trouble with my '66 pontiac lemans. It has a 326 v8 with edelbrock performer intake manifold, performer 600 carb. The coil is a mallory pro-master coil and a mallory dual point distributor.

I recently took my car out of storage after 3 months (after siphoning out as much old gas as possible and puting in 5 gallons of high test). When I took it out, it ran like s**t, running real rough, anytime I tried to punch it, the car would hesitate and backfire through the carb. When I got the vehicle home I pulled the plugs and they were completely fouled (they were replaced last summer along with the plug wires and the car didn't get driven much before it went into storage). I cleaned the plugs as best I could and put them back in. The car started right up and ran. Took it out for a short drive (less than five miles) and it ran great. Pulled the car back in the garage, had it idling for a short time (less than five minutes) and I could here it start hesitating. Well I wanted to start my car a week later and the car is running like complete crap again. I pulled the plugs and they are completely fouled.

I am looking for some suggestions. Here is what I am going to check:

1) Check the coil output by pulling plug wire #1 and hold it 1/2 inch from plug while someone cranks the car hope for good spark (is there a better way to test this?)

2) Check the timing, although I had someone set the timing not to long ago.

3) Adjust the fuel mixture on the carb (I know the carb is running rich, but not this rich). 4) If the above doesn't fix the issue, I will but the stock single point distributor back in and see if I have any better luck with the original distributor (I have had nothing but trouble with this mallory distributor). If/When I pull the mallory distributor I will check the points, rotor, cap for any tell tale signs of wear).

Does my list of items to check seam reasonable? Let me know if I am forgetting anything. All responses are eagerly anticipated.

Sorry this post is so long!

Kevin

Reply to
K. Elliot
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K. Elliot wrote in rec.autos.tech

Pull the plug, or use an old one. Connect any plug wire to it and lay it so that the metal is making good contact with ground. Crank engine while observing plug. Should get a nice bright spark. Doing it the way you claimed only adds more resistance into the circuit, and if the wire will actually go to what ever the closest ground is, not necessarily the plug. And if the plug is slightly fouled it probably won't work anyway.

If the engine starts and runs good with fresh plugs, then timing is close enough.

Could be a problem with the carb beyond a simple adjustment.

Check the points, cap and rotor before touching the carb. Be sure to look for cracks or carbon tracking inside the cap.

I would put fresh plugs in, take it out and drive it for a while, then check to see how they look. If they are fine, put them back in and let the car sit for a couple of days. Pull one of the plugs to check it, replace it, and then try to start the car. I suggest you do that to determine the state of the engine while you duplicate the conditions. And I also suggest that you do the easy things first. But I think it is possible that something in the carburator is leaking, due to gumming up over the winter. Probably something in your idle circuit.

Giving us details about the car and problems? The alternative would be "My car, she runs like crap. Please help"

Reply to
Dick C

I had one that acted something like that from sitting. It was a bad/corroded hold down foot (ground) on the distributor causing weak spark. Fresh plugs would fire for a short period.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"K. Elliot" wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

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