Loss of power and other wierd stuff...

[theogre5150]

Well,
It's been a while since I've been on here. Glad to be back. Been doing nothing but working on my truck since it was rebuilt. This post has multiple issues so we we go:

1. Have very little power when driving. As soon as I climb the slightest hill my truck almost dies on me.
--I have replaced the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and points. Put the engine back in time. Still nothing. The only thing I haven't done is adjust the vacuum advance.

2. Tried and failed miserably to install the Pertronix electronic ignition module. I just burned up my second one today. I followed the directions and that thing still burns up when I crank the engine.

Here is how my engine is currently set:
Holley 2300 2bbl
Offy intake
Timing - 6 deg.
Points - 27in
RPM - 700 to 800rpm
18hg vacuum

I am at my wits end with this. My truck was down for 10 months last year for the rebuild (money issues) and now all I want to do is drive old Big Bird.

[fordman]

aren'tthe points suppose to be at 17? or is that a typo? as for climbing hills . i suspect the fuel line inside of the tank could have a holein it. or the fuel pump could be going bad and not pumping enough pressure to keep the fuel flowing.

[rjewkes]

almost sounds like one at two have a relation, that is if the petronix went in prior to the hill climb die, then it sounds like you are under voltaging the petronix or maybe over voltaging it. i beleive you have to eliminate the resistance wire in this setup. its the wire from the ign. switch to out under the hood. and you need 12 volts supplied to the petronix all the time after startup i beleive plus un resisted switched voltage.

[theogre5150]

My chilton book says that the points gap is 27. The truck never cranked with the Pertronix. Both of them fried when I turned the key.

[theogre5150]

Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that sometimes when I turn the truck off, it has trouble shutting off. It will spit and sputter and then shut off. Don't know if this is related.

[fordman]

diseling is too far advanced on the timing. i think. thats what the spitting and sputting is all about. maybe the balancer has slipped. what engine is this? fe or a small block? a 6 cyl? ok so a 6 cyl is set at 27.

[rjewkes]

wow if its burning the petronix it could be doing the same to the regular coil and points too.

[theogre5150]

The Chilton book says that the timing should be set to 6 deg tdc. Looking at the indicator on the engine I see 6deg on both sides of the tab. Which one is it or does it matter? Also, I replaced the plugs with autolite platinum if that makes a difference. I have replaced everything under the hood except for the coil.

[michael69]

What kind of coil are you using with the pertroix ? When I put a pertronx in the 360 I had I was told to use the regular points coil because if I put a hotter coil like from a electronic set up it would fry the pertronix. Don't know that for sure just what I was told.Maybe this will help with the pertronix frying problem.

[fordman]

6 degrees before tdc or the zero marking.