62Ranchero200
Famous Member
Greetings Ford Six Fans!
Relevant background:
250, aluminum head
DS II, custom curved by WSA111, set to 20 degree initial advance, vacuum advanced hooked to "timed spark vacuum port" on Holley 4412S (ported vacuum)
MSD-6AL, using magnetic pickup
Holley 4412S, "500 CFM" 2 BBL
In late April, as I was preparing to drive the Ranchero from Houston to an FCA (Falcon Club of America) regional in Baton Rouge, LA, I went on a fast food lunch run in the Ranchero, and it died in the drive-through. With a 300 mile drive set for the next day, I performed a traditional tune-up on the Ranchero - new plugs, cap and rotor, and checked the timing. After the tune-up, the Ranchero ran great all the way to Baton Rouge and back (600 miles)! Great acceleration, low RPM at 70 MPH (I'm running a T-5), and 17 MPG.
Life got in the way for the next two months, then one day in June I went to start the Ranchero because I needed the garage space to work on another car - it wouldn't start. I had no time to troubleshoot it that day, so I just pushed it back.
Fast forward to last weekend - four months later. I checked the cap and rotor - they looked OK; the coil - 1.5 ohms on the primary side; but the magnetic pickup seemed open (infinite resistance). I pulled the distributor and replaced the magnetic pickup. After reinstalling the distributor and timing the engine, the engine started easily and idled very smoothly, but wouldn't rev unless revved very slowly. If revved quickly, it backfired. The next day I came out to troubleshoot this and the Ranchero wouldn't start at all.
It was at this point that I decided that the ignition switch was probably original (1962) and might not be making good contact, so I would replace it. Found that the wires on the ignition switch connector were in very bad shape - with large spots where the insulation was either burned or scraped away - so am now replacing the ignition switch connector as well. Considering the condition of the wiring, it's a miracle that the Ranchero has run for six years with that wiring; the wires could have easily shorted out to each other or grounded.
Am hoping that after the ignition switch and connector replacement, the Ranchero will once again start easily and idle smoothly, then I can work on why it won't rev without backfiring. Have three thoughts so far:
* Accelerator pump
* Vacuum advance
* I assembled the distributor incorrectly after changing out the magnetic pickup, and the mechanical vacuum advance isn't free to move
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
Bob
Relevant background:
250, aluminum head
DS II, custom curved by WSA111, set to 20 degree initial advance, vacuum advanced hooked to "timed spark vacuum port" on Holley 4412S (ported vacuum)
MSD-6AL, using magnetic pickup
Holley 4412S, "500 CFM" 2 BBL
In late April, as I was preparing to drive the Ranchero from Houston to an FCA (Falcon Club of America) regional in Baton Rouge, LA, I went on a fast food lunch run in the Ranchero, and it died in the drive-through. With a 300 mile drive set for the next day, I performed a traditional tune-up on the Ranchero - new plugs, cap and rotor, and checked the timing. After the tune-up, the Ranchero ran great all the way to Baton Rouge and back (600 miles)! Great acceleration, low RPM at 70 MPH (I'm running a T-5), and 17 MPG.
Life got in the way for the next two months, then one day in June I went to start the Ranchero because I needed the garage space to work on another car - it wouldn't start. I had no time to troubleshoot it that day, so I just pushed it back.
Fast forward to last weekend - four months later. I checked the cap and rotor - they looked OK; the coil - 1.5 ohms on the primary side; but the magnetic pickup seemed open (infinite resistance). I pulled the distributor and replaced the magnetic pickup. After reinstalling the distributor and timing the engine, the engine started easily and idled very smoothly, but wouldn't rev unless revved very slowly. If revved quickly, it backfired. The next day I came out to troubleshoot this and the Ranchero wouldn't start at all.
It was at this point that I decided that the ignition switch was probably original (1962) and might not be making good contact, so I would replace it. Found that the wires on the ignition switch connector were in very bad shape - with large spots where the insulation was either burned or scraped away - so am now replacing the ignition switch connector as well. Considering the condition of the wiring, it's a miracle that the Ranchero has run for six years with that wiring; the wires could have easily shorted out to each other or grounded.
Am hoping that after the ignition switch and connector replacement, the Ranchero will once again start easily and idle smoothly, then I can work on why it won't rev without backfiring. Have three thoughts so far:
* Accelerator pump
* Vacuum advance
* I assembled the distributor incorrectly after changing out the magnetic pickup, and the mechanical vacuum advance isn't free to move
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
Bob