Timing frustrations

[Big Red Mach 1]

Would this work? I'm thinking maybe not. But was this hoping it would  and keep the wiring as clean and neat as possible with no splicing. But it looks like there may be some extra wires here as compared to the schematic mjlan posted above. 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aww-500918

 

[Don C]

It states in the description that it's not compatible with OEM DuraSpark.

The one from Painless that costs $20 less should work.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

It states in the description that it's not compatible with OEM DuraSpark.

The one from Painless that costs $20 less should work.

Thanks Don C. I noticed that, but I can't distinguish between OEM and non-OEM Duraspark systems. 

 

[Don C]

What you'll be installing will have original connectors, that wiring harness doesn't mate to original connectors.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

General consensus is go with DuraSpark, Performance Distributors made to order by the looks of it. Cheaper too!

https://performancedistributors.com/product-category/distributors/ford-distributors/ford-duraspark-distributors/

Update: I have to say that I probably would not use these guys again. It's been 5 weeks and no dizzy. I emailed to check on it a couple of weeks ago and was told that it would ship in the 4th week. It now hasn't shipped in the 5th week, and they don't even return emails it seems. I'm not sure when I'll get it honestly. I'm fine with the wait, but it's the lack of communication that bothers me most. That and the odd thing where they didn't sell the boxes and harness anymore, but still had them on their site, and let me order them before they told me they were no longer available. Clearly they have more work than they can handle. Quality can often go down in times like that. I hope that's not the case here. 

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Still waiting on the new dizzy. They finally shipped it. So will probably have it 7 weeks from time of order. 

Have been setting timing this whole time with the vacuum advance capped off. 16 is what the car has liked. Hooked up the vacuum advance, and everything else. Took it up to the corner to get gas. It was a bit slow to restart at the gas station. Got it home, shut it off and tried it again. Again a bit slow. Seemed like maybe I was a bit rich, but decided to put a timing light on it. timing was only at 10 deg. Doesn't make sense. Disconnected the vac advance again, loosened up the dizzy hold-down bolt and figured I'd turn it a hair until it started better, and then would reset at 16 from there. Just plain won't start now, no matter where I turn the dizzy. I gave it a bit of gas and it backfired through the carb. Ended up getting the starter super hot and draining the battery down. On a charger now. Will try again in the a.m. But what could cause my timing to retard from 16 to 10? . The dizzy seemed bolted down firmly. I could not turn it by hand. Bolt was tight. 

 

[Don C]

Timing ring on the harmonic balancer slipping is one possibility.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Timing ring on the harmonic balancer slipping is one possibility.

No. We checked that a handful of posts ago. Plus, I don't think I'd have the actual symptoms of a thru carb backfire and hard to crank. 

 

[Don C]

10° should be easier to start with than 16°.

At first I thought you might be having a carburetor heat soak/percolation problem, but now I'm think something else because it won't start.

The backfiring through the carb can be an indication of a lean issue, or a really bad ignition timing problem. The other possibility for the slipped timing is that the pin that holds the gear to the distributor shaft has sheared. Does your car have the stock volume and pressure oil pump?

Just in case it is flooded I would let it set for a while and try starting it again. Also check your oil to see if it smells like gas.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Got it started and timed right. Definitely gas in the oil. Drove it up to my local cars and coffee even this morning, maybe 5 miles. Even though my gauge didn't show overheating, I puked a tiny bit of coolant, and it puked a little again when I got home. There was some sludge in the brand new radiator, that I'm sure hoping isn't oil. I have another cooling thread on this page. I did not flush the system completely when I put in the new radiator. Just added distilled water and coolant. I'm hoping the sludge is from the old coolant parts like the block and water pump. Seems like my threads I post are merging. 

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Didn't really look like oil to me, but definitely makes me nervous. 

 

[Stanglover]

IF it ain't one thing, it's another. It never seems to stop. That sucks man! One step forward a three back. Something isn't right for sure. I really hope you don't end up pulling the motor for a rebuild. 

Follow the advice of Don C .

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

I set it at 16 with no vac. I've never noticed it move before like that. I've also never seen one retard like this when on VAC. Same as you mentioned, if anything, it should actually advance. It is a single vac advance. 

After a 7 week wait, my new Duraspark box and dizzy are here now, so hopefully I'll get a chance to pull this old Mallory stuff out this weekend. 

Based on everything I sent them, Performance Distributors has the new dizzy calibrated for 22* @ 3000rpm. We'll see how that works. 

 

[SteveO_71]

Just wondering if your breaker plate ( or vacuum advance is sticking ). i.e you set timing for what is believed to be 16 BTDC, drive it,  breaker plate or advance arm changes, timing drops to 10 BTDC. Seems odd that timing would change like that after driving. 

My 71 had the opposite thing happening. I would set initial timing to 10 BTDC, drive it, recheck timing ( vac hoses disconnected and plugged ) and it would be 17 BTDC. I would mistakenly reset to 10 which would now be almost TDC so totally wrong.

After checking a few other things, turned out to be a sticking arm in my vacuum advance. so replaced that with a new vacuum advance from NPD with adjustable vacuum and had all kinds of issues such as hard starting, backfiring etc.. Dont know exactly why.

Replaced with NOS correct part for the car, as well as lubing up breaker plate while dizzy was open and everything now works as expected.

Cant comment on carb/engine changes mentioned in the previous 13 pages since I'm not at that knowledge level. Just wanted to pass on my experience.

 

[shaheenk]

I managed to get my timing issues sorted, somehow the gearbox was binding while in park. Put the car into N and start and its perfect, so out comes the tranny to figure out why