hard starting

Rent-A-Racer

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Jan 5, 2004

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Aug 1, 2004

#1

• Aug 1, 2004

• #1

Hey all! I'm a little stumped. My car (302 4v C-4) is a PIA to start when warm. (Have to crank several seconds to get it to fire). It starts perfectly when cold, and runs great in every other aspect. Here are the things that I've checked so far:

1) carb adjustment (Used vac gauge)
2)checked timing (6 BTDC)

Could a carb spacer help this problem?
Could the headers (Long tube) be affecting the starter?

ANY ideas/advice would be great!!!

 

6

67GTA-FB429

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Dec 15, 2003

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Tri-Cities, Wa

Aug 1, 2004

#2

• Aug 1, 2004

• #2

Carb spacer won't help. That is more for a vapor lock from "boiling" the gas out of the carb.

Try changing your timing...increase it. Also use the vacuum gauge to set your timing. I did that and my car is no longer as difficult to start.

 

1

1969mach1351

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Apr 18, 2003

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Sacramento, CA

Aug 1, 2004

#3

• Aug 1, 2004

• #3

Your carb might need to be rebuilt. When I bought my car it would not start when warm, like you mention. After a rebuild it started just fine. Also got better gas mileage.

 

skywalker

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Dec 22, 2003

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Pensacola, FL

Aug 1, 2004

#4

• Aug 1, 2004

• #4

If it is hard to start when warm then I'd say vaporlock actually could be an issue. I have been having serious issues with vapor lock, including similar symptoms. I had a metal fuel line coming from my fuel pump to my carb, I replaced it with a rubber one, put some berryman's B-12 in the gas tank (BTW, that stuff will fix any fuel clog, it has saved my time and money many times) and wowzas! IT WORKED!

Now, timing is another big issue. The starter would probably not be a big item since the starter is still turning the engine is it not? (Though, with headers you may want to get a "mini-starter" which is basically a 5.0 starter.)

Check your points, if they look kind of rough try putting a petronix ignitor in there. Check your plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor button.

 

Rent-A-Racer

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Jan 5, 2004

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Aug 1, 2004

#5

• Aug 1, 2004

• #5

The plugs, wires, cap and rotor are all new.
I have the Mallory type of ignition. (no points)
How do you time a car with vaccum?
Also, the carb. is new, so hopefully that's not the problem. Sometimes it will backfire while starting, as well.

Thanks for all your help so far.

 

pabear89

Active Member

Apr 15, 2003

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High in the Hills of So Ca with the Voices in My H

Aug 1, 2004

#6

• Aug 1, 2004

• #6

Rent-A-Racer said:

Hey all! I'm a little stumped. My car (302 4v C-4) is a PIA to start when warm. (Have to crank several seconds to get it to fire). It starts perfectly when cold, and runs great in every other aspect. Here are the things that I've checked so far:

1) carb adjustment (Used vac gauge)
2)checked timing (6 BTDC)

Could a carb spacer help this problem?
Could the headers (Long tube) be affecting the starter?

ANY ideas/advice would be great!!!

Click to expand...

Next time you run it, When you shut it off look down the carb for a fuel leak or vapors rising from the carb.
Without a spacer to keep heat down it could be boiling the fuel in the bowl and leaking inside thru the overflow.
Your starter is getting heat soaked if it will not turn over the motor at a normal speed when hot.

PB

 

6

67GTA-FB429

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Dec 15, 2003

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Aug 1, 2004

#7

• Aug 1, 2004

• #7

OK. I did not read correctly. Yes a spacer might help, but I would bet at least $0.02 that your timing is not advanced enough.

Try 10-12 degrees.

To time with a vacuum gauge...hook up the gauge and then adjust the distributor until you get the highest, stablest reading but you have to make sure that you are not getting any pinging. Also you don't want your total advance too high (ie, 35-40 igood for me). I tried that way one time and the car has run great ever since.

 

Rent-A-Racer

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Jan 5, 2004

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Aug 1, 2004

#8

• Aug 1, 2004

• #8

Ok, Where is a good place to get a spacer, and what kind??

Also, My timing, with a light is 6 degrees BTDC. I was told by a friend that over advance would cause hard starting when warm .(that's why I checked it in the first place.). So actually, it's the other way around?? Is there anyhting else I should check, like fuel pressure??

Thanks for the info.!!

 

skywalker

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Dec 22, 2003

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Pensacola, FL

Aug 1, 2004

#9

• Aug 1, 2004

• #9

If anything, advancing will help hard starting. Retarding timing will cause hard starting. Youre friend might have had it backwards.

 

Rent-A-Racer

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Jan 5, 2004

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Aug 2, 2004

#10

• Aug 2, 2004

• #10

Ok, one more question.

How do you check your total advance?

 

6

67GTA-FB429

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Tri-Cities, Wa

Aug 2, 2004

#11

• Aug 2, 2004

• #11

keep the light on it and rev it up a bit. You may have to extrapolate past the last mark...but it is a linear advance so you can always make new marks out to 30 or 40 btdc.

 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter

Nov 18, 2002

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Cape Cod, Ma.

Aug 2, 2004

#12

• Aug 2, 2004

• #12

skywalker said:

If anything, advancing will help hard starting. Retarding timing will cause hard starting. Youre friend might have had it backwards.

Click to expand...

this is an incorrect statement. to much advance will make it hard to start hot.