[TheGreatPumpkin]

466, dual QFT 600s, full MSD, 14 initial, 35 total, 10 vac advance. 9:1, 268/276 adv duration cam. Idle screws are 1 and 1/8 out, idles at 13-14:1 afr, 16lbs vacuum at 800rpm.

Runs great once it starts, idle could be a little leaner. Cranks a lot to start, even when all warmed up (chokes are removed so I expected some hard starting when cold). Cranks nice and fast, no indications of an electrical issue.

Just took it around the block for the first time and haven't tried to tune it much, but what should I adjust to get it start easier? Thanks

 

[rs7201]

Sounds like low secondary voltage when cranking. Coil wire? coil?
Are you bypassing the ballast resistor when cranking?

Richard

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

Sounds like low secondary voltage when cranking. Coil wire? coil?
Are you bypassing the ballast resistor when cranking?

Richard

Brand new wiring harness, no ballast resistor. All the original wiring is gone. Coil is a new MSD Blaster 3. I will check for any loose connections or anything

 

[dacofa]

Brand new wiring harness, no ballast resistor. All the original wiring is gone. Coil is a new MSD Blaster 3. I will check for any loose connections or anything

Coil hooked up backwards.

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

Coil hooked up backwards.

Nope, coil is good

 

[The Mad Porter]

MSD ignition box?







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[RmK57]

I'd try new plugs or at least look at the ones that are in their for starters.

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

MSD ignition box?







Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
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R-H-P.biz
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(253)-988-6648
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Yes, Digital 6A. Connected as per instructions

I'm thinking I probably just have to lean out the idle and see if the starting gets better. And double check the timing

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

I'd try new plugs or at least look at the ones that are in their for starters.

Motorcraft ASF32CA. I wrote down in my log book that I gapped them at 0.041"

I also have a set of the ASF42CA (those are hotter, yes? Can't recall)

 

[dacofa]

Did you change something or did this just start doing it, or has it been doing it for awhile?

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

It's been like this since I put it together, which is to say a week or less. I'm only thinking something is off because I'm starting it multiple times a day now, when warmed up - beforehand I would just start it once when cold to set timing, check mixture, check for leaks in power steering etc, and since there's no chokes on the carbs I kinda just accepted the hard starting as a cold start condition.

I'm thinking I'll start by open the plug gap to 0.050" like MSD recommends and get the idle tuned right, not just in the ballpark. Hopefully it starts and runs better. Could it be anything else? I'm basically pumping the gas pedal twice and cranking it with the throttle just barely cracked open, like usual...

 

[dacofa]

What type of starter do you have, battery and starter cables?

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

What type of starter do you have, battery and starter cables?

Odyssey performance type one, i forget the model number. 1/0 gauge from the trunk to the solenoid going through a 200amp circuit breaker, starter cable is also 1/0 and the ground is good. It's never tripped the breaker

 

[dacofa]

Odyssey performance type one, i forget the model number. 1/0 gauge from the trunk to the solenoid going through a 200amp circuit breaker, starter cable is also 1/0 and the ground is good. It's never tripped the breaker

Just for a test to eliminate some parts, take the starter cable and put it right to the battery side of the solenoid. See how it turns then. Could be a bad solenoid or bad ground at the solenoid.

 

[rattle_snake]

swap out carbs for EFI

What is AFR?

What distributor?
suggest MSD box.

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

I have some time to look at this tomorrow.

Have a full MSD system with Digital 6A. MSD recommends "0.050-0.060" gap up to 10.5:1 compression." Engine is 9:1. What gap should I try?

Should I reuse the ASF32 or 42 (one step hotter) plugs? Street car, not going to be at high rpm all the time... Just not sure. Thanks

edit: my battery/charging system checks out good so I'm going to eliminate that as an issue for now

 

[dacofa]

Check your voltage at the coil + side with the key in the on position and with it cranking over. Check your dist cap to see if there's any crud in there. another thing is your rotor the right one? some are to short to make good contact with the dist terminals.
The carbs are going dry when stopped and then you have to pump them up again?

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

All the MSD stuff is brand new, actually so is the alternator and battery. Seems to be starting and running A LOT better at 0.052" gap. Tuned the idle a bit. Tons better.

Now I have to figure out why it won't go into fourth gear, fuel gauge is dead, and power steering appears to not be working 🤯

 

[aquartlow]

Maybe try a slightly richer idle mixture. I have found that getting the highest idle vacuum often causes a too lean start issue. I try to find highest idle vacuum then add 1/8-1/4 turn rich to IMS's. Hope this helps

 

[TheGreatPumpkin]

Maybe try a slightly richer idle mixture. I have found that getting the highest idle vacuum often causes a too lean start issue. I try to find highest idle vacuum then add 1/8-1/4 turn rich to IMS's. Hope this helps

Yeah I'll definitely mess around with that. I have an AFR gauge that should help me get it where it needs to be