Have fun with this one!!!

Beef97 · Aug 11, 2005

My brain has nearly oozed out of my ear trying to figure this one out....I'll just list everything. Just recently changed fuel lines to 3/8 stainless, no leaks with fuel anywhere. New harmonic balancer, timing chain, timing cover, no oil leaks there. New edelbrock fuel pump putting out around 6-8 psi. Water pump is aluminum and works. Holley 650 double pump that is rebuilt and works well. MSD 6AL and electronic distributor. Timing is set at around 11 degrees initial and around 36 at 3200 rpm. Flushed out radiator twice and installed an oil cooler. Here's the deal. Driving around at low rpm's seem fine, then when i get on the highway and cruise around 50 mph it slowly starts tickin louder and louder. I don't know why the car would be pinging. The temp starts floating about 180 and gets hard to stabilize even while driving. I just installed all those fuel lines because i thought the car might have been running lean but apparently that didn't do much. Hopefully i didn't leave anything out.....sorry its so long! Ohh yeah and the thermostat is brand new and is a 180 deg.

ANY help is awesome!!!

thehueypilot · Aug 11, 2005

Maybe you need to try 93 octane and increase your primary jets by a couple of numbers. Maybe vapor lock? Check to make sure your fuel lines are not too close to exhaust parts.

D.Hearne · Aug 11, 2005

You didn't include any of the details of what the motor is built of. Heads, pistons, cam, etc? What's the compression ratio? What car and what radiator? And I second what huey said, but would add, use Chevron 93 octane gas. Their advertising isn't B.S., it REALLY is better gas. Try some off brand premium, smell it. Then get some Chevron 93 and get a whiff of it. Your nose will know the diffference.

Beef97 · Aug 11, 2005

it's originally a "c" code engine (2bbl) so im thinkin the comp ratio was around 9.5 or so. I've never had overheating problems before. 4 row radiator. I pulled the heads off to do a minor port and polish job on them (cast iron heads). It sat for a couple of years and i put it all back together while changing the gas tank, fuel lines, harmonic balancer, timing chain and cover........and now overheating and pinging. I really doubt that i put the head gaskets on the wrong way, they are pretty easy to put on. My only guess is that when i changed the timing chain (it was really loose and worn out) i haven't adjusted the valves since. Maybe the valves were slightly misadjusted because the timing chain was so loose? But to cause an overheat and pinging i doubt it. Maybe i should just buy a 4 cyl. toyota engine instead.....haaaaaaaa!

D.Hearne · Aug 12, 2005

If it's still got the stock cam in it, yea, that's why it wants more octane. Back when it was new, the octane requirement for it was a minimum of 94 octane. (that's what leaded regular was then) If you're in doubt about the head gaskets, it entirely possible that one or both are on backwards. It's easy to put them on either way, only someone paying attention will avoid doing them backwards.The front coolant port should have been blocked by the gasket if installed correctly.

Beef97 · Aug 12, 2005

yeah put a new cam in about 6 years ago....i think its somewhere around a .495 lift not sure on the dur. though. You say when you install the gasket that the gasket should block the coolant passage?? Isn't there only one way to install them? They have those 2 metal dowel pins that the gasket fits over and im not sure if i know of another way to install them? I've got an accell blueprint distributor on there now (electronic) Its anything but impressive but at least its not the stock one. Its about 9 years old now and im wondering if an MSD one would improve the timing issue? Who knows.....thanks for your help though

65up2d8 · Aug 12, 2005

D.Hearne said:
You didn't include any of the details of what the motor is built of. Heads, pistons, cam, etc? What's the compression ratio? What car and what radiator? And I second what huey said, but would add, use Chevron 93 octane gas. Their advertising isn't B.S., it REALLY is better gas. Try some off brand premium, smell it. Then get some Chevron 93 and get a whiff of it. Your nose will know the diffference.

Your brain may know the difference too when it starts going "wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah"!!!!!

D.Hearne · Aug 12, 2005

Beef97 said:
yeah put a new cam in about 6 years ago....i think its somewhere around a .495 lift not sure on the dur. though. You say when you install the gasket that the gasket should block the coolant passage?? Isn't there only one way to install them? They have those 2 metal dowel pins that the gasket fits over and im not sure if i know of another way to install them? I've got an accell blueprint distributor on there now (electronic) Its anything but impressive but at least its not the stock one. Its about 9 years old now and im wondering if an MSD one would improve the timing issue? Who knows.....thanks for your help though

Yea, the gasket will fit either way. The dowels just serve as a locator to keep them centered over the bores and have the coolant ports line up. They also align the heads on the block. I don't know why you're implying the stock distributors are something less than desireable, it's been my experience that they work fine. The stock, rebuilt points type one I run in my 331 stroker has served it well, it even worked fine up to 7500 rpms in the 5.0 it was in before. If you're not satisfied with the Accell, I doubt you'll be either with an MSD.The Accell may just need the advance curve dialed in for your motor. It may be coming on too soon.

D.Hearne · Aug 12, 2005

65up2d8 said:
Your brain may know the difference too when it starts going "wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah"!!!!!

I suggested getting a whiff, not filling your scuba tanks with it.

Beef97 · Aug 12, 2005

That would be a very interesting study, go around to various gas stations and start sniffing gas......thats all i need is another reason for the cops to pull me over....I'll tell them thats the advice i got off of Stangnet....to sniff gas and not worry about my car so much....

65up2d8 · Aug 12, 2005

Beef97 said:
yeah put a new cam in about 6 years ago....i think its somewhere around a .495 lift not sure on the dur. though. You say when you install the gasket that the gasket should block the coolant passage?? Isn't there only one way to install them? They have those 2 metal dowel pins that the gasket fits over and im not sure if i know of another way to install them? I've got an accell blueprint distributor on there now (electronic) Its anything but impressive but at least its not the stock one. Its about 9 years old now and im wondering if an MSD one would improve the timing issue? Who knows.....thanks for your help though

No, there's not only one way to install them. That's precisely the reason so many people flub it up, especially people who have not dealt with Ford small blocks in the past but have dealt with Chevys. I hope that's not your problem, but its been so many years since I did mine that I don't recall your point about the dowel pins. I only recall that I've made that mistake, and I know many, many others have made the same mistake at one point.

65up2d8 · Aug 12, 2005

D.Hearne said:
I suggested getting a whiff, not filling your scuba tanks with it.

Easy on the "I'm with stupid" smiley. Reread your post. You'll see that you left yourself wide open for that observation, and you have to admit it was funny.

D.Hearne · Aug 12, 2005

65up2d8 said:
Easy on the "I'm with stupid" smiley. Reread your post. You'll see that you left yourself wide open for that observation, and you have to admit it was funny.

I thought mine was funny too you read too much into things.

65up2d8 · Aug 12, 2005

D.Hearne said:
I thought mine was funny too you read too much into things.

Your post was funny, and I'm not PO'ed. I am, however, hesitant of using that smiley myself as I feel it might offend someone needlessly (meaning, of course, there are times when offensiveness is proper ). We're completely cool, though, as far as I'm concerned. You give some pretty solid advice on this forum IMO, and I enjoy reading it and learning from it.

Beef97 · Aug 13, 2005

managed to check the gasket....definately installed correctly.....at least that's one less thing to check

D.Hearne · Aug 13, 2005

You DID check both I hope?

mustangdave · Aug 13, 2005

If I remember correctly, aren't the gaskets marked "FRONT" so you know which way they go?

Beef97 · Aug 13, 2005

yeah they are marked "front" on them.....im thinking it could be a steam pocket or air pocket whatever you wanna call it.....i had one years before and it was hell trying to figure out why it was overheating. Any ideas how to get them out?

D.Hearne · Aug 14, 2005

mustangdave said:
If I remember correctly, aren't the gaskets marked "FRONT" so you know which way they go?

They should be marked, but not all are. I always verify that the front passages are blocked.

1Bad67 · Aug 14, 2005

Are you sure that when you installed the new timing chain you weren't off by a tooth?

Have fun with this one!!!

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