Starting to understand why building engines may be best left to the professional

[Yellow Truck]

Almost all good news. Got the new distributor in and got it started (I made sure it was warm so it would be easier to start after the swap). Not proud of the wiring yet, but I left it so I could put the old one back - I'll tidy it up when I'm happy with how it runs. Only problem is the snap clip that holds down the front side of the distributor cap is so short I need vice grips to get it in place.

Got it hot and it started to run nicely, idle settled in at 900, timing set at 18, it gave more vacuum at higher advance but it wasn't fully hot so I left it at 18 for now. I didn't have anyone to help today so I couldn't do the 250 rpm increment advance test, but the advance stopped at 34 degrees, so it is showing 18 initial, 34 total right now.

I took it for a few rips and there is no rattle, and while it doesn't come in until close to 3,000, it really takes off at that point. I didn't put the O2 sensor on it today, I had pulled it out since I was doing a lot of engine starts and it is a pain to remember to plug in the module each time.

The bad news - it still runs on and runs backwards on shut down. If you click on the images it will take you to Flickr where the videos will run. Vacuum is not a video.

Walk around running:

Walk around by Fred Snoyd, on Flickr

Mild launch:

Standing start. by Fred Snoyd, on Flickr

Vacuum gauge:

Vacuum by Fred Snoyd, on Flickr

Shut down:

Run on at shut down. by Fred Snoyd, on Flickr

[Yellow Truck]

im pretty sure you use it just as the pertronics did i cut off the dura spark plug and substituted the small square msd plug  but otherwise wired as shown . if you want i will come over tomorrow and help nothing else to do im dying to hear this thing run!!!

Comet2, I'd be happy to have you come over, question is - where are you starting from?

[Yellow Truck]

One other bit of bad news - I have a coolant leak around the passenger side of the timing cover, seems to be at the top bolt. My old F100 shop manual refers to a "Cylinder Front Cover", and provides a torque value of 12 to 15 ft lbs. I assumed they meant the timing cover, but in any case, what is the torque limit for the timing cover?

Also, is it madness to think about running some form of stop leak and then dumping the coolant?

[Drew Pojedinec]

Slow the idle 100rpms and see if it runs on.  yes?no?  slow it down some more and see.

yes, it's a bad idea to run coolant leak stop stuff.  Figure out where the leak is and fix it properly.  (it's probably that janky coolant hose)

You are 100% sure you don't have a small vacuum leak?  That would explain a ton of issues.

Dunno if it's an issue or not, but I've always had the timing gun pickup as close to the plug as possible.  Shouldn't be an issue, but since you are having weird issues there......

[Yellow Truck]

Ok, I'll slow the idle. May go and get the manual choke kit - I don't know if there is a difference between the Holley and QFT kits. It would be easier to keep it running on start with a lower idle if I had a choke.

Not a bad hose, I can see the leak. Starts at the top bolt on the timing cover. I'll drain some coolant, pull that bolt, re-seal it, torque it down again. I really DON'T want to pull the cover.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Good call on resealing the bolt.  Top bolt shouldn't go into coolant tho.

I edited my post above and added some thoughts that may or may not be helpful.

[Yellow Truck]

On the vacuum leak question - at one point I sealed up the carb with duct tape and used a cigar to provide smoke. It was tight. I may do it again, but running out of year. Expecting 6 to 8 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow but then the weather turns warm again. Just a little foreshadowing!

I'll back off the idle and see if it helps.

[My427stang]

How many miles on the engine?

I agree with idling it down a smidge, but if it's a tight motor, you may want to get some miles on it, it'll build less heat.  Not to mention, idling in place generates a little more heat too

[Yellow Truck]

How many miles on the engine?

I agree with idling it down a smidge, but if it's a tight motor, you may want to get some miles on it, it'll build less heat.  Not to mention, idling in place generates a little more heat too

Miles on the engine - low hundreds. Don't think it has made 300, possibly not even 200. Longest trip so far was 29 miles each way. That was the longest by 20 miles.

"...idling in place..." that shutdown was after taking it for a 5-10 minute drive.

[Barry_R]

Only timing cover bolts going into water are down below the water pump.
A drip up high is the thermostat gasket about 98% of the time.
Sounds like we are getting close now.

[Drew Pojedinec]

It would be easier to keep it running on start with a lower idle if I had a choke.

This is why chokes have a high idle cam that raises the engine speed for warmup.

[Yellow Truck]

I damaged the clock spring in the choke, but I'm not too upset since I don't like electric chokes. Nothing going on until the snow stops.

[Yellow Truck]

This is cooling my jets a little...

Not much going on here. by Fred Snoyd, on Flickr

[Heo]

Still about a month before i have that....white...grmngfl

[Drew Pojedinec]

"it's not cold yet in Canada"  says Paul......


"You've never lived in south Georgia."  says Drew....