Minimum wiring

[p24-1953]

Getting ready to do the first fire on the engine and am down to the wiring. If I run a wire from the hot side of the starter silinoid to a key switch then from the key to the to the negative on the coil and a positive from the coil to the distrbutor... will I be good to go?

[pflaming]

Go to google, good clear instructions there. Just put in "how to hot wire a '50's engine". Go to images and select the one for your engine.

[p24-1953]

It runs.... well at least for a min or so, seems the carb needs to be rebuilt, but it runs....

[pflaming]

When I first had my 218 running, an old school mechanic, just by his hearing said the timing was a smidgen off. He ALWAYS had a 4" crescent in his pocket and with that small wrench and his ears he fine tuned the distributor and the carb. Then he reversed the 4 & 5 spark plugs wires started the engine and forced it to backfire a couple of times! I asked why the forced backfire? "That can clean out the carb of minuscule debri and it will run better, I.e., a poor man's tune up." He said. After that, that engine ran like a top and still does.

The old mechanics were /are very interesting.

[Jerry Roberts]

And you are getting to be an interesting old mechanic too Paul . 

[Bingster]

My dad had that type of mechanic when I was a kid. He was nearly deaf, but somehow he could hear if a car was running bad. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

you know you good when you can grab the coil wire and tell what cylinder is dropping out and be able to quote the engine revs within +/- 5 RPM

[pflaming]

Or place four fingers on the plugs of a four cylinder engine to kill it, but you must be quick and confident.

[DJ194950]

you know you good when you can grab the coil wire and tell what cylinder is dropping out and be able to quote the engine revs within +/- 5 RPM

 

You say'in?

[Plymouthy Adams]

You say'in?

I figure if you believe some of the above I could sell you a package deal also...