1969 F-100- Engine is out

[evan_flatt69]

Hello everyone! I'm gonna bite the bullet and start a project thread for my 1969 F-100 Short Bed Custom Cab. To kick it off I made a video of just a quick overview of the truck. I forgot to mention a few things in the video so I'll list them here: rebuilt C-6 trans, 3.25 ratio 9 inch rearend, American Racing Baja rims (rough shape), front disk brakes, and I have 2 of the trim pieces that aren't on the truck. I haven't been keeping a good record of the stuff I'm doing on here so I'll start now. It's taken me and my dad a month or 2 to get the transmission sorted out. We got it out probably about 1.5 months ago and just got to drive it from the shop yesterday. But enough jibber jabber.. Let's get to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Gxy6DBJsQ

If you have any ideas about why it is backfiring any input would be appreciated!

[Hemp8709]

Thanks for the video. That looks like a good start. Better them what I got. Lol. Keep up with the updates. Looking forward to your progress.

[evan_flatt69]

Thank you very much

[Joshpow]

Looking good. keep us posted on progress. nice solid start of a truck.

[evan_flatt69]

Looking good. keep us posted on progress. nice solid start of a truck.

Thanks man! That's what our new mechanic said. He was impressed with how solid the truck was even underneath!


Well I've been cleaning my truck (mostly of the mostly the wheels) then i switched my attention to under the hood where I began do dismantle parts.. I started with the distributor cap, then the distributor. I got them cleaned then put everything back in and started it up the engine wouldn't hardly start. So thought maybe it was low on gas so i put about .75 of a gallon in it but it didn't change anything.. So I began to check the ignition. And after some research I found out that my spark plugs weren't on the right points so I fixed that then the engine began to constantly rocked back and forth as the throttle surged form aprox 700rpm to 1000rpm. So I narrowed the problem to the distributor and I checked my timing. It was ok but then I unplugged the vacuum advance line and it ran like a champ (no more backfiring either). So I have discovered this- From the get-go my firing order has been off so that explains many of things for me.

And now for the big questing: Why won't my engine run right with the vacuum advance? I'm not sure if I got the 3 wires that go into the distributor plugged into the right places because when I labeled them I only labeled 1 side of the plug . But it runs so I think they are correct. When I drive it without the vacuum advance it hesitates a little in 1st gear / lower rpm (1000-2000). So that makes sense right? Not enough advance at lower rpm so it hesitates? I'm thinking that maybe my timing is off, it's at about 12* btdc right now so could that have anything to do with it? It also has some trouble starting when it's cold. I'll adjust the timing a little tomorrow and see if that helps.

[evan_flatt69]

Any ideas?

[evan_flatt69]

Cleaned the valve covers today and neatened up the spark plug wires. I tried to fix the vacuum advance problem but i had no luck..

[evan_flatt69]

Just rigged up a manual choke in lieu of the electric choke that wasn't hooked up. I'd rather have a manual choke any day. It is made form the metal case of the electric choke, basswood, screws, a servo arm from my RC plane parts, super glue, and rubber bands . I'll post pics when I get the time

[evan_flatt69]

Me and a friend removed and cleaned inside and out of valve covers, put in new seals for them, flushed the coolant system, and tomorrow I will fill with antifreeze and distilled water. I'm hoping the Jiffy Lube up the road will take the 5 or so gallons of antifreeze, flushing solution, and water that we have.

[Joshpow]

Redneck ingenuity!! Dont blame you im partial to manual chokes myself. Whats the latest on the firing issues?

[evan_flatt69]

I don't think I am having any ignition issues anymore, although I haven't really gotten to drive it since I blew out the fuel filter, adjusted the timing, and got the vacuum advance working. But I think my ignition is ok now. At idle it kinda changes it's tone/speed.. Is that normal? I'll try to get a video posted of the progress I've had over the past few days..

Right now my problem is fuel soak. Hopefully a full coolant system flush, new coolant, and eventually a fan shroud will help that situation. If not then a 1/2"-3/4" carb spacer needs to be purchased..

Idk if I have posted this or not but my grandfather who has been a car (GM mostly) enthusiast for 40+ years says my truck has a mild cam, judging by the exhaust note. It had crossed my mind that it kinda sounds cammy (new word) but I just assumed it was the flowmaster exhaust.. Then a few days later when working on my vacuum advance problem with forrestbump and fordman on the Engine section of the forum, I found out that I have electronic ignition! It was a "duh" moment.... I had been wondering what that metal box that says "HEAVY DUTY" and has wires running to the coil/distributor mounted in my engine bay was doing. I assumed it was part of the stock electrical system

[evan_flatt69]

Latest video: http://s997.photobucket.com/albums/af97 ... 0_4001.mp4

[evan_flatt69]

Got to do a little driving today. Hauls mulch pretty good

[evan_flatt69]

INSURANCE IN A DAY OR TWO Now I can really drive it. My great uncle came down the other day to check out the truck and see about paint and body work as that's what he used to do for a living. Looks like we'll be getting a little of the body done bit by bit for a few weeks. (he lives about an hour away) He said the body wasn't bad just time consuming to make it look right. Once we buy the tools we need and get some work done i'll post pics. He also said he had a 68' with a 460 a few years back!

[Caseys71]

Great looking/sounding truck! Excellent videos too I might add . Keep on keepin' on, you're doing a nice job. Also I like the manual choke, you just gave me an idea for how to set mine up for the time being .