Car running on four cylinders

[Guyman]

Hi, my newly rebuilt 318 all the sudden wanted to stop running good and is running on four cylinders. Every other cylinder on the dist. Cap is not firing.....just put in new plugs, Checked the new wires, checked new points and gap........maybe bad condenser, coil, or?????...help.!!!!!!..I checked the dwell, it's good, checked all plug gaps...points gap....etc.

Thanks, Guy

[Mark Merritt]

Does that have the double set of points? distributor cap secure? Mark M

[Guyman]

Single points.... Distrib cap tight but a little play..slight.

[big m]

Guy,
Often times this is caused by too much play in the distributor shaft, causing fluctuations in the point gap. Also, though unusual, is the lobes being worn down. A carbon track in the cap or a crack can also cause maladies such as this.

---John

[Guyman]

Got my sf running again....rebuilt the carb..had some old gummy gas in it from sitting too long.

[big m]

Glad you got it sorted, Guy.

---John

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

A note to everyone that it is coming up in the time of the year in putting Sta-Bil in the gas tank before it is put away for the season, We all have time still to enjoy our cars but pick it up now at your local auto parts store so you will have it ready to pour in the tank before the winter months hit us (Florida and California Forum members excluded from this comment since it is always so darn nice and warm in your areas!)

This will stop the gas turning to varnish and the carb gumming up with stale gas.

John Q.

[Guyman]

Hey John....yeah., the carb was "gummy" before I bought the car....and the motor was "supposably" rebuilt....remember, I bought that '60 318 from ya and rebuilt it for my '59....the one that was suppose to be rebuilt was junk!...but the carb wasn't bad., just had some gunk in it...caused a lot of headaches...but in the end, it's all good again....

Guy

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

My bad! I knew the motor was rebuilt but missed the part that the carb was rebuilt too!


John Q.