1955 Customline Stock 272, 2100 Carb. Stock Distributor with pertronix 2 fitted. Reds Headers. Manual with O/drive.

Running perfect. Indication shows around 20 degrees at timing indicator when Vaccum gauge was used for best vaccum.

Fitted the inlet manifold gasket with smaller hole to eliminate paint burn off at manifold at carb base.

Should have been simple but now runs like s..t. No power.

Carb jets checked, fuel filter. Pertronix head in distributor and all connections. Nil abnormal found. Still rubbish idle and road running. All vaccum connections distributor to carb intact.

Seems I will need to go through timing again and establish best position again.

Did not expect this should happen with this simple inlet manifold gasket change.

Have i missed something?

Appreciate all assistance as prior to this was great starting, idle and highway running with overdrive in use.

Thanks,

Phil Gillespie

New Zealand

Phil, Do a vacuum check. You can use "starting fluid" either to spray the intake at idle. If the idle changes, you have a leak.  Might hook up the vacuum gage and check to see if the vac. has dropped at idle, this WILL affect the advance.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Phil:

It ran fine before the gasket change.  Ran poorly after the change.  I think you need to revisit the gasket installation.  Check for a vacuum leak as Frank suggested first.  I have used an unlit propane torch to locate a vacuum leak, be careful around the distributor with either propane or ether.  There are sparks inside the cap.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Thanks for your advice Frank and John. Will do as you suggest and hopefully locate the problem.

appreciate your assistance

Phil Gillespie

Phil, also, if you haven't already, get a 57 up distributor for the car.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Hi Frank,

          Already have a pertronix 2 fitted in the original distributor and am happy with performance.

What could I expect with the fitted of a later distributor?

Thanks,

Phil

The older distributor will not get the right vacuum signal from the newer carb which results in an engine that "now runs like s..t. No power." If you still have the stock distributor and want it to run right, the only fix is a '57 or newer distributor.


Lawrenceville, GA

The old distributor, assuming it's original to the car, has no mechanica advance mechanism. It operates based from various vacuum signals from the original carb, including manifold vacuum and airflow based signals. You no longer have these signals. You MUST use a distributor with mechanical advance to restore your perfomance and economy. This is one of the oldest issues with Y-blocks, been articles written about it since the late 50's. NAPA and Autozone carry rebuilt distributors for early 60's trucks, for 50-80 bucks. Get one then we'll explain how to re-curve it and you'll think you gained 100 hp. Maybe you will!!

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

The application you would ask for is 1964 F100 with 292.Last year the 292 was used in N.America.If you are still using the stock distributor with the later carb you will be surprised at the way it runs with the dual advance distributor.You will also need a cap and rotor for a 57-74 Ford V-8 as the later cap is bigger diameter.

  

Phil - You didn't by chance install the Pertronix without retiming the engine did you? The placement of the trigger in the distributor doesn't quite match the points opening - which changes the static timing. Time to drag out the timing light and vacuum gauge......  

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona