That's one of those mystery problems that can take months or minutes to find all depending on luck. Glad you found it. Enjoy the cruzing.


Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Glad you got it sorted out and told us about it



54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I'm surprised it ran well at any rpm with that kind of problem.  Never would have guessed that.


Lawrenceville, GA

Problem solved!  This is a first for me, the points were physically broken. The contact spring mount where the primary and condenser wires attach was broken at
the bottom.  The points could be set, but this whole assembly would move due to the breakage. Sorry for the lack of general knowledge, but I really appreciate all the input.

What distributor are you running?  If it's a 57 or later, try it without the vacuum advance hooked up.  Be sure to plug the vacuum line.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

The pigtail lead that connects the coil to the points in the distributor has been known to have broken wires from year of flexing from the continuous motion of the breaker plate from the vacuum advance. You can't tell by just looking at it because the insulation is still intact. The broken wires can sometimes still make contact when the vacuum advance is in various positions which results from certain rpms.

Will it rev higher? Could be a fuel delivery problem. It's so hard to trouble shoot a problem over the internet but you will solve it I'm sure. Endeavor to persevere!

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

I apologize to Mr McCraney for my imprecise language, the change in carb made no difference, it ran the same as before.  I neglected to mention that I had changed out the coil, thanks for that thought.  As to Petes' comment, it doesn't stall out like a vacuum leak, it loses power like it doesn't have enough electrical juice to keep it running,. It almost diesels at low rpm.  Thanks for everyones' patience and responses.

I`m curious. If the engine will not run below 1500 RPM how can you be so sure that you have no vacuum leak (s)? Pete

In your original post, you said you "have tried my spare carb... no difference."  Now you're saying it ran before the swap.  Which is it?

If it was fine before the swap, then the problem is with your carb - most likely, the idle circuit is not working.


Lawrenceville, GA