Idle rough on old Flat Head

[Tom Skinner]

Gents,

I have a life long buddy with a 1944 Ford Jeep that is Idling rough.

I tuned it up fine last fall and it ran like a charm. I tested the condenser and it didn't spark when the rubbing block was between two lobes the ignition turned on and I moved the points back and forth. Question: could a bad condenser cause an erratic idle. He thinks its old gas and drained the tank.

Saturday we will try other things. The Points looked a little burnt in the center. Everthing considered after the tune up last fall it pulled 20 inches steady on a vacuum gauge, now its pulling 15-16 inches and stumbling.

Cold or hot its idling unsteady so I don't think its the coil. Also the plugs are carbon sooty - heavy black all of them not just some??? All new plugs, wires,

points, cap, rotor, condenser (last fall).

Any Ideas?

Tom

[Tom Skinner]

I meant to say also, it was getting plenty of gas, has a new gas filter, and had weak spark at the block when I static timed it with the motor off.

It starts fine - idles erratic.

[ptwothree]

Could be a burnt exhaust valve....I'd do a compression test....