Ignition timing is messed up and /or float set incorrectly dumping fuel in. If you pulled off your ignition wires, did you put them back on the cap in the correct firing order and in the correct direction? What made you rebuild the carb to begin with?
Nervous incident with lucinda
So yesterday i rebuilt my carb. It is a motorcraft 2100 so very easy to rebuild. However today i tried starting up the car. I tried starting the car before i rebuilt the carb but she wouldnt turn over. Today she turned over and the first time it sounded like the engine whined and then died out. I assumed because it just needed to get gas back in the carburetor. So we tried again and i saw the fuel filter fill up and then it turned over again and died immediately. I tried starting it for the third time and it turned over but right when that happened the carburetor blew a huge fireball to the ceiling of the garage. I dont really want to start it again or even know if it is safe to try again. Halp lol
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I didnt pull any ignition wires. And the float from what i measured was the same before i took it out. I rebuilt the carburetor because i dont think it has ever been taken off nor taken care of and it has always given me problems since the get go.Ignition timing is messed up and /or float set incorrectly dumping fuel in. If you pulled off your ignition wires, did you put them back on the cap in the correct firing order and in the correct direction? What made you rebuild the carb to begin with?
Is there any chance you moved the distributor which would change the ignition timing?
If it's a 289, 302 or 351W, you can start over by pointing the distributor vacuum advance straight ahead, towards the front of the car. This will allow your engine to start and run smoothly (assuming the distributor and plug wires are installed correctly) Connect a timing light and, with the vacuum advance disconnected, set the ignition timing.
If it's a 289, 302 or 351W, you can start over by pointing the distributor vacuum advance straight ahead, towards the front of the car. This will allow your engine to start and run smoothly (assuming the distributor and plug wires are installed correctly) Connect a timing light and, with the vacuum advance disconnected, set the ignition timing.
Those are really good, simple carbs. I would turn the idle screws in just til they stop, not hard, then back out 1 and 1/2 or 2 turns each. Then check engine off (static) timing for the number one cylinder at top dead center of the compression stroke, make sure the ignition rotor is pointing at the number one position on the cap when it would be in place then check the engine running (dynamic) timing and see if you can get it to about 6 degrees before top dead center with a timing light. If it is way off, perhaps your balancer ring has slipped and setting it by the timing marks will have the timing too far advanced or retarded. Be sure on cold cranking the throttle plates are open just a hair, the choke is closed correctly and the engine isn't flooded from pressing the accelerator a bunch of times. It usually takes a few cranks for the fuel bowl to fill and every thing to do its job on initial start after rebuild.
Also, are you running points and condenser in good shape and gapped correctly with a clean ground, or are you running an aftermarket electronic ignition, etc.?
So for some small back story this car has been sitting for about three years just recently got it shipped to me. I used it as a daily driver but them it sat in a back alley in grass and now i have no idea what needs to be done. When i rebuilt the carburetor last night i put everything back the way it was but no dice. I didnt unplug anything from the distributor nor did i even turn it in the slightest. Also i apologize but im not too educated on the car. I know some but not alot of it. So dumbing things down a little might be best. My main concern is the fireball as well. Is it even safe to give it another go? I mean ill try it as many times as needed with as many fireballs i would just rather not have my carb explode completely.
1st, put your city/state in your signature. Maybe someone close can stop by to help. So it was running ok when you parked it 3 years ago. Also curious if its points or electronic ignition. Have to ask if you popped the cap to take a look see and if its points can you clean the contacts and check the gap. If you pull the coil wire and crank it over does it seem to be dumping raw gas into the intake? I have 3 extinguishers in my garage and one in the car!
I sincerely hope I am wrong but I had a junk yard 302 in my car for a while and it blew a fireball like that when the nylon timing chain gear stripped. If you do a compression check and cylinder(s) have no compression, were talking boat anchor...
There were some dark years where Ford used nylon gears for the lower small timing chain gear, if it is a high mileage car...
BTW, NEVER store a car in grass, it dissolves the underside of the car as the grass won't allow air to pass under so when it gets damp it stays damp. Worst thing you can do to a car.
M
There were some dark years where Ford used nylon gears for the lower small timing chain gear, if it is a high mileage car...
BTW, NEVER store a car in grass, it dissolves the underside of the car as the grass won't allow air to pass under so when it gets damp it stays damp. Worst thing you can do to a car.
M
I hate it when that happens. As long as you don't have your face near the carb it's not dangerous. Startling, though.I tried starting it for the third time and it turned over but right when that happened the carburetor blew a huge fireball to the ceiling of the garage. I dont really want to start it again or even know if it is safe to try again. Halp lol
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I hate it when that happens. As long as you don't have your face near the carb it's not dangerous. Startling, though.
Sure gets your attention. How long has it been since the car ran? Did you start it before you took the carb off for the rebuild? How old is the gas in the gas tank?
Could be a million things... we need more info to help.
Gotta quit buying those ACME carb rebuild kits!No kidding. That's a good way to come away with no eyebrows haha, IF you still have your face.
1st, put your city/state in your signature. Maybe someone close can stop by to help. So it was running ok when you parked it 3 years ago. Also curious if its points or electronic ignition. Have to ask if you popped the cap to take a look see and if its points can you clean the contacts and check the gap. If you pull the coil wire and crank it over does it seem to be dumping raw gas into the intake? I have 3 extinguishers in my garage and one in the car!
The lst time the car ran was three years ago. When it was shipped here i tried starting it and it would crank and crank but wouldnt turn over. Ive always meant to rebuild the carburetor but didnt get around to it til two days ago. But 3 years ago yes it was running fine but i believe it was running very rich and i couldnt quite tune the carb correctly. Also never did anything with the plugs nor the discriminator. Ive researched all last night for other people with the same problem and ive been seeing almost all have to do with the timing and the discriminator. Possibly someone back home couldve messed with mine but how do i fix the timing when i cant start the car?HTML:? Sure gets your attention.I hate it when that happens. As long as you don't have your face near the carb it's not dangerous. Startling, though.
How long has it been since the car ran? Did you start it before you took the carb off for the rebuild? How old is the gas in the gas tank?
Could be a million things... we need more info to help.
Pictures of almost every angle of my carburetor and how its always been maybe something isnt right but thats what ill leave these pics here for. Hopefully theyll help
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Not saying your wrong , But I've never seen a plastic lower/small gear but many upper big gear. Ford wasn't the only one to use plastic cam gears they all claim it was for reduced noise I think it was for reduced cost :shrug: True about parking on grass though that is about the worst thing you can do ,just as bad or maybe worse than driving in saltI sincerely hope I am wrong but I had a junk yard 302 in my car for a while and it blew a fireball like that when the nylon timing chain gear stripped. If you do a compression check and cylinder(s) have no compression, were talking boat anchor...
There were some dark years where Ford used nylon gears for the lower small timing chain gear, if it is a high mileage car...
BTW, NEVER store a car in grass, it dissolves the underside of the car as the grass won't allow air to pass under so when it gets damp it stays damp. Worst thing you can do to a car.
M
To the OP 2 things that concearn me are the bend in the throttle cable between the carb and cable mount ,and the coil being so close to to the carbPictures of almost every angle of my carburetor and how its always been maybe something isnt right but thats what ill leave these pics here for. Hopefully theyll help
What's up with the big 1980s vacuum diaphragm thing in the back of the intake manifold? Is there a chance it's leaking air in?
It's got to be spark, fuel or air. I'm guessing you've got air and a fireball implies fuel so I'd see if you actually have a spark and go from there at getting them all in the right place at the right time.
It's got to be spark, fuel or air. I'm guessing you've got air and a fireball implies fuel so I'd see if you actually have a spark and go from there at getting them all in the right place at the right time.
About the throttle cable its been like that since i got the car and its never been a problem same with the coil. I used to daily drive it. And the vacuum hoses i have no idea what they are supposed to go or do or what honestly
That's an EGR valve, I don't see how it could be part of the issue and it's disconnected anyway. You're right about it (the intake) being off a later model engine though.What's up with the big 1980s vacuum diaphragm thing in the back of the intake manifold?
My vote is ignition/timing. Even though it supposedly wasn't touched I believe it's off. 90% of my brief fireballs were ignition related anyway. The others were from fuel flooding type problems and had to be put out.
Okay thank you all i will try and reset the timing or try to fix it. And then i will keep yall updated on anymore fireballs. Also like i said before im not the best person for the job so is there someone that can tell me a fail proof way of setting the timing while the engine is off or at least get it close enough to start my car?That's an EGR valve, I don't see how it could be part of the issue and it's disconnected anyway. You're right about it (the intake) being off a later model engine though.What's up with the big 1980s vacuum diaphragm thing in the back of the intake manifold?
My vote is ignition/timing. Even though it supposedly wasn't touched I believe it's off. 90% of my brief fireballs were ignition related anyway. The others were from fuel flooding type problems and had to be put out.
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