ksousa

I have a bone stock '29 RPU that I can't seem to get running right.
I have put in new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil.
Have triple checked the plug gag and point gap.
I've set the timing with a timing light after bringing up #1 piston to TDC and mounting a pointer to the front engine mount and making a mark on the lower pulley.

She'll start and idle and I can even get her to move down the road on a flat road or downhill. With the slightest incline, she can't get enough power to get out of her own way.

Symptoms:

• Occasional backfire. Not overly loud or constant.
• While idling, I see a drip of gasoline out of the back of the carb (at the choke butterfly) about every 3 to 5 seconds.
• I have the Lean/Rich screw about 1/4 turn from all the way closed yet she still smells like it's running very, very rich. If I bottom out that extra quarter turn, she'll stumble and stall.

It sure seems like electrical to me, but I can't seem to find the source of the illness. Does anyone have suggestions on where to look and check next?

thanks

thefonz

You didn't mention changing the condenser, this can cause this symptom too. Pull some plugs and see if they are wet with gas or black. If so, it is possibly a carb problem. Did you check the timing with the vacuum line plugged?

chipset

You have more than one problem there. First thing is where is the original pointer for the timing marks ? Why did you have to make a mark on the balancer pulley ? wasn't there a
factory mark ? If the pointer and original marks are not there and you made your own
you will NEVER time that engine properly without a degree wheel and gauge to dial in the cam. Then you have to stop the flooding of gas on the carb. You don't say what carb.
On some carbs. the " lean - rich screw " can be out 1 1/2 turns. As the fonz says a bad
condenser can do that but it's pretty rare. Start by fixing the flooding carb.

ksousa

Thanks Chipset. I've been tinkering some more and definitely need to calm that carb down before moving to anything else. I have found out that it's a Tillotson carb and apparently prone to this kind of leakage. Researching rebuilt kits now and I'll see if I can save it.