Every cylinder between 170 and 180. Great compression test results. The last two times my car lost power and ran rough. I had burned through a spark plug boot. Shorty plugs fixed my problem. Good luck.

 

Based on the compression tests, you vacuum readings and the visual under the valve covers, its sure looks like ignition or fuel delivery.

Problems with fuel delivery would, I think, be more prevalent across the power band and not so intermittent, but its possible.

Try another distributor, recheck the clearances for the Pertronix, or something similar.

Good luck!

 

Do you have a spare points dizzy and spark plug wires laying around? Install those and see if it helps. Did you try idling the car in the dark to look for a lightening storm under the hood?? I assume you don't have another carb to stick on there. My vacuum readings leveled out above 2k but were bouncing all over the place, plus my duraspark dizzy had HUGE weights that was making my timing go nuts. I'd suspect the ignition. How does the underside of your dizzy cap and rotor look like? A few of the cylinders may be getting spark but it may not be a hot enough spark for combustion, thus the effect of 7 cylinders. Just a few thoughts to ponder.

 

If I had a dollar for every story of a failed pertronix, in a couple more years I could buy caltracs for my 70.

 

IMHO I would keep the Pertronix Ignitor and toss the Pertronix coil.

For $15 you can put a cheap generic auto parts coil on there and it might just fix your problem.

(by the way. I currrently hold the record for a Pertronix coil toss at an estimated 100 ft into "Victoria lake" at Hallett motorspeedway. This feat was accomplished last year and Mid America 2004. This year, Jay attempted to beat my record at Mid America when his coil failed but he missed the lake!) ::

 

I did try idling in the dark, no light show.
I was told to try spritzing water over the wires while idling as well.
I do not have an extra carb or dizzy. Although by the time I get through this I may have ::
The distributor cap looks good. As does the rotor.
I'm going to try a new set of plugs as well. Even though there's a spark at the plugs perhaps it's not hot enough?
Yes, the Pertronix, I've heard the stories as well, which is why I'm wondering.
Thanks for the ideas guys.
Dave

 

Shark can add me to his list. Pitched my Pertronix (not as far as Charlie, but close ), cured my woes instantly.

 

100 feet eh? If this thing fails me I'll throw it as far as I can across the St Lawrence River...look-out N.Y. State. Maybe I can set some VMF coil toss record

 

Well, thats great news, good results. Looks like your going to get off easy. Sounds like time for a MSD late fathers day present to me. :biggrin: To help isolate the actual source if it's a bad plug or wire, you can pull one wire at a time and it should always run worse, if not you may have found it.

 

The MSD does sound appealing...maybe there's a good side to this after all
I put in a different coil and it didn't change a thing :chainsaw:
I'm off today to buy some points and a condenser, haul out the Pertronix and chase this thing down.
Thanks for the responses.
Dave

 

There might not be a record for toss length of the pertronix unit on the dizzy :rofl: May the force be with you :trooper: :winkgrin: