52Suburban Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 History Stock 218 put in Langdon HEI distributer - ran well began install of Langdon 2 barrel carb --- required shorter studs to mount - broke studs trying to remove pulled intake and exhaust manifolds - fixed intake Bought moose headers, both headers and intake ceramic coated Installed headers, intake and Langdon carb - running really rough Limped to muffler shop - dual exhaust with glasspacks installed - no I can hear myself think :-) Limped home - checked for vacuum leaks with carb cleaner at intake and carb base - no increase in idle --thought that the last time it was running well was with 1 barrel carb - installed - re-timed 10 degrees w/o vacuum still running horrible - no power missing Oh also checked fuel filter - dirty - so I replaced I'm thinking go back to original distributer, check fuel pressure Im very frustrated and ready to give up (I probably won't) but you know..... Any suggestions? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 yah...check the air to fuel ratio with a sniffer.....it is not advised to do multiple changes without testing between upgrades..... Quote
martybose Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 Since it runs bad with both carbs, that makes me think that that you have a vacuum leak in the manifold. Any chance that the fitting for the wiper connection on the bottom of the manifold is wide open? Marty Quote
TodFitch Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 History Stock 218 put in Langdon HEI distributer - ran well So the ignition system would seem to be okay. began install of Langdon 2 barrel carb --- required shorter studs to mount - broke studs trying to remove pulled intake and exhaust manifolds - fixed intake Bought moose headers, both headers and intake ceramic coated Installed headers, intake and Langdon carb - running really rough So the issue would likely be with the headers, intake or carburetor I'm thinking go back to original distributer, Huh? What would make you think its the distributor? Quote
52Suburban Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Posted March 27, 2015 Since it runs bad with both carbs, that makes me think that that you have a vacuum leak in the manifold. Any chance that the fitting for the wiper connection on the bottom of the manifold is wide open? Marty As Ross Perrot said then I would hear a giant sucking sound!There is a bolt in that threaded hole but I'll check with starter fluid Quote
52Suburban Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Posted March 27, 2015 So the ignition system would seem to be okay. So the issue would likely be with the headers, intake or carburetor Grasping at straws going back to the beginning? Huh? What would make you think its the distributor? Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 Most manifold vacuum taps are tapered pipe thread. Should have a pipe plug not a bolt. Quote
DJ194950 Posted March 27, 2015 Report Posted March 27, 2015 Is your Langdons the two-two's with the progressive carbs and are the new or rebuilts? Have you syncronized the carbs? A couple thoughts. Love the Suburbans, good luck, DJ Quote
52Suburban Posted March 28, 2015 Author Report Posted March 28, 2015 Is your Langdons the two-two's with the progressive carbs and are the new or rebuilts? Have you syncronized the carbs? A couple thoughts. Love the Suburbans, good luck, DJ newer langdon single carb Quote
White Spyder Posted March 28, 2015 Report Posted March 28, 2015 Just an off the wall thought 'cause I have seen it before else ware; is it possible that the carb gasket is not made correctly and is covering something it should not? Even if it were "made for that application" I have seen them miss cut or not have a hole correctly punched. Quote
52Suburban Posted April 3, 2015 Author Report Posted April 3, 2015 Well white Spyder was right in thinking off the wall and different. In my quest to make sure I had covered all the basics - I checked the spark plugs to see if the were fouled. What I found was each and every plug had no gap. Now I remember reading a gap of .060 for the Langdon distributer and I thought I gapped the plugs but I guess not.... I then re-timed with out vacuum and turned the idle down and its running with low end power (well as you all know for a 217 ;-) ) I do have crud in my gas a new filter is immediately dirty so I guess a search on gas tank purchase or actually Ill pull it and see how it looks and see if there are any people who service tanks here in the north bay area of SF. Let me know if any of you know of a source for tank cleaning and sealing. Thanks! Quote
Jerry Roberts Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 " ... I checked the spark plugs to see if the were fouled. What I found was each and every plug had no gap. ... " No gap , how is that possible ? When the spark plugs were new they had a gap . You probably at least looked at them when you installed them . The only way that I can see that they would have no gap.... the reach of the plugs is too long and the pistons came up and closed the gap . Quote
52Suburban Posted April 3, 2015 Author Report Posted April 3, 2015 " ... I checked the spark plugs to see if the were fouled. What I found was each and every plug had no gap. ... " No gap , how is that possible ? When the spark plugs were new they had a gap . You probably at least looked at them when you installed them . The only way that I can see that they would have no gap.... the reach of the plugs is too long and the pistons came up and closed the gap . I thought about this too - i was thinking piston but perhaps valve.... If that is the case then the gap should close again - correct. I meant to re-check the gap today but forgot - I will Plymouth Adams what would cause this?? Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 Do your spark plugs look like the ones pictured below or is the threaded end longer? If longer you have the wrong plug and the intake valve will hit the end of the plug and close the gap. Quote
52Suburban Posted April 3, 2015 Author Report Posted April 3, 2015 The slightly longer one R44SX is what was sent to me with the HEI distributer can I use stock plugs? Quote
Don Coatney Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 Suggest you check with the engineer Tom Langdon. If he sent the plugs he should know. Quote
Geekay Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 Keep checking each item and you will find the answer. Get the plugs query sorted first. When I get completely flumoxed I walk away and come back the next day with a clear head. From another Suburban owner, do you have any pics? Quote
Phil Martin Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 Be careful.I put a plug that was too long in a 53 plymouth flathead years ago. first crank over a valce hit the plug. Closed the gap but also bent the valve Quote
Ulu Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 That gap is also much affected by head gasket thickness and how much you've shaved the head or block. Turn the engine over with the plugs out & use a depth gage to check available clearance to the open valves. if this is too hard. Put a tiny lump of thick grease 1/16" thick on the electrode, screw it in & rotate the engine. Then pull the plug & look. Is there grease on the valve? if not you're OK, but if so you may be too close. some guys will use clay for this type of check, but I won't put clay in an assembled engine. Quote
martybose Posted April 4, 2015 Report Posted April 4, 2015 When I tried an extended reach plug it closed the gap on three plugs the first time I turned it over. Went back to a standard reach plug, no problems since then. Marty Quote
52Suburban Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Posted April 6, 2015 Suggest you check with the engineer Tom Langdon. If he sent the plugs he should know. He is not answering an email? Any one with the Langdon distributer - what plugs did you get sent/use I have R44SX Quote
58prostreet Posted April 6, 2015 Report Posted April 6, 2015 I am running autolite 306 plugs in my '52 dodge with a Langdon HEI distributor. Has been running great for 5 or 6 years. Bob Quote
Jeff Balazs Posted April 7, 2015 Report Posted April 7, 2015 Don't all these heads use a 3/8" reach plug? Jeff Quote
52Suburban Posted April 7, 2015 Author Report Posted April 7, 2015 Gapped to .060? I am running autolite 306 plugs in my '52 dodge with a Langdon HEI distributor. Has been running great for 5 or 6 years. Bob Quote
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