Valve adjustment??

[Don Jordan]

All I want is to be able to get in the car and push the button and have it start. Is that asking so much? New plugs, points, condenser, voltage regulator, rebuilt gen. and starter, new batt. cables. Come on - what's left? My friend the mechanic said "valve adjustment." Problem with that is I DON'T KNOW HOW!! My old Chevy I used to adjust the valves with the engine running. A flat head is a horse of a different color.

Just looking at the inspection plates - do I need to remove the manifolds to get to the valves? Once there I have no idea what I'm going to find. Is it really possible that valve adjustment will help it start? Once the car is going it's a dynamo.

I would like to say in passing for all those that gave me advice about the slow cranking power - newer, bigger battery cables did the trick. I never would have guessed. I guess they are 0 gauge.

anyway - thoughts about the valves?

d-

[Normspeed]

I can't believe valve adjustment could be so far off that it would be hard starting.

Points are at .020, and plugs at .028 (or .035 for resistor plugs)? I have no short term memory left, is it always hard starting, never ever started, starts ok when cold, or hot...? Smell gas? From driver or motor?

[Lou Earle]

Your starting problem sounds very much like a timing issue./ Just a fraction off and presto hard starting.

What I do-

Set timing on tdc at 0- degrees get her warmed up. Then turn distributor to where it runs best a regular idle. you will know that spot. Then try and accelerate if it accelerates with no hesitation you in good shape if hesitates rotate dist a bit until no hesitation.

Then turn her off.

wait a few minutes say 3 to and try and crank her. If cranks your probably perfect. If engine tries to kick back any you are to far advanced. retard buy turning dist clockwise just a hair and try again. If engine does not start but does not kick back the timing is probably retarded to much turn counter clockwise a bit and try it.

2 weeks ago I did this on 48 dodge and 46 Plymouth. Both were crabby about starting but after this both start just fine hot, warm or cold

Lou

[Don Coatney]

Your starting problem sounds very much like a timing issue./ Just a fraction off and presto hard starting.

What I do-

Set timing on tdc at 0- degrees get her warmed up. Then turn distributor to where it runs best a regular idle. you will know that spot. Then try and accelerate if it accelerates with no hesitation you in good shape if hesitates rotate dist a bit until no hesitation.

Then turn her off.

wait a few minutes say 3 to and try and crank her. If cranks your probably perfect. If engine tries to kick back any you are to far advanced. retard buy turning dist clockwise just a hair and try again. If engine does not start but does not kick back the timing is probably retarded to much turn counter clockwise a bit and try it.

2 weeks ago I did this on 48 dodge and 46 Plymouth. Both were crabby about starting but after this both start just fine hot, warm or cold

Lou

Better yet connect a vacuum gauge once the engine is at running temperature and set the timing to the higest vacuum reading. Then see how it starts when hot.

[Lou Earle]

Don

Have not yet tried vacuum gage - where do you attach it on stock engine and on the modified engine( 2 carbs) I have. I want to try that.

Lou

[Don Coatney]

Don

Have not yet tried vacuum gage - where do you attach it on stock engine and on the modified engine( 2 carbs) I have. I want to try that.

Lou

Lou;

Attach it to the intake manifold. Same port as the windeshield wiper motor. I use the old carburetor position on my modified engine.

[oldmopar]

Don, as others have stated your starting problems are most likely is not do to a valve adjustment. However once you get it runnung you may need to do a valve adjustment so here is a link from the home page of this site with instructions on vavle timing and a lot of other good information

Ed

http://www40.addr.com/~merc583/mopar/framesets/techtipframeset.html

[Reg Evans]

"Better yet connect a vacuum gauge once the engine is at running temperature and set the timing to the higest vacuum reading. Then see how it starts when hot."

Is vacuum timing done at idle or at a higher rpm?

[Niel Hoback]

Timing with a vaccuum guage is done at idle. Turn the distributor to advance the spark until you get the higest steady reading. Don't advance past that point.

[BeBop138]

I had a similar problem and it was the imfamous braided wire inside the dist--for some reason they go bad or?? Mine was intermitent, sometimes it would start right up, next time not. When it wouldn`t start one time I had sweetie pie come out to the garage and turn it over--no spark. Went thru all the things you did--points plugs ect. When I replaced the wire--no problem since. Good Luck.....

[Don Coatney]

[is vacuum timing done at idle or at a higher rpm?

Idle