Today after some head scratching and a lot of $#!@$@ of the PO, I had my
1976 car running and on the road ( just around the street and back to
turn her around).
I had acquired the car in October and never had her running. I know it
was a gamble but there was so much potential in her that I could not
pass her up. Anyway the engine never ran until today. BY doing all the
brake etc. work already I was able to get her our the garage and turn
her around so the exhaust now points out. Anyway the problem turned out
that I labeled the plug leads when I took the distributor cap off. So
when I was tired I would not connect them up wrong. Turns out that after
checking I had a spark and fuel flow she would not start. After taking a
break for lunch it struck me that the PO had put the leads in the
correct firing order but had the leads one out, i.e. never firing at the
right time. So with that fixed she now runs.
I have a question for the list though as I was trying to check the
timing. She was set to about 12 degrees BTDC but the books etc. say 2
degrees ATDC. This is a 76 1500 with electronics and not the old points,
I think it is an Allison ignition system. Thing is as soon as I get her
down near 4 degrees BTDC she starts to get really rougher. I have a
timing light off of cylinder 1. Any one there got any ideas. I want to
get the timing right before I start tweaking the carb which I rebuilt a
week ago.
Also, sorry if I have not taken part in the club naming, logos etc. over
the last couple of weeks. I cannot access my ISP email directly any more
from work. I have to use an intermediate http route an it is painfully
slow. So I am down to email from home. I keep my work email address
separate you see. Also I just have not got into logging in and the kids
are usually using the PC in the evenings for their homework.
You can tell I have not been into email. Sorry for the long one.
Alan (A very happy guy spitfire owner)
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