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Engine Occasional misfires normal for a HCI?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AnthonyA1234
  • Start date Start date Jan 26, 2023
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AnthonyA1234

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#1
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #1
Even after doing a full resto on my engine, I still get occasional misfires. The car will misfire when it is both hot and cold. I’d say about half the time I start driving the car when it’s cold once I get up to speed in 2nd gear the car bogs down, I’ll hear multiple misfires (pops from the engine) and then after that it regains power and runs fine. The other scenario it happens is very rarely during rev match downshifts when I blip the throttle I’ll hear a pop from the engine. Also sometimes when I do full throttle pulls I’ll hear a pop but the car doesn’t bog.

The car has edelbrock performer heads, cobra upper lower intake, and a x303 cam.

Could something be wrong or is she dying for a tune?
 
Last edited: Jan 26, 2023

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
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#2
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #2
There is something wrong, it should not misfire.
The stock computer should be able to easily handle what you are throwing at it.
Most likely you have some sort of ignition issue.
 

AnthonyA1234

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#3
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #3
2000xp8 said:
There is something wrong, it should not misfire.
The stock computer should be able to easily handle what you are throwing at it.
Most likely you have some sort of ignition issue.
Click to expand...
What could it be? It has a brand new distributor, coil , wires, and plugs. Should I pull out the plugs and check the gaps?
 

AnthonyA1234

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#4
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #4
I also have timing at 14 degrees. If anyone knows If my timing should be more or less with the mods I have please lmk.
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
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#5
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What brand of distributor, plugs, coil, and plug wires?
 

AnthonyA1234

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#6
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #6
MSD street fire distributor, MSD coil, ford racing wires, champion plugs.
 

2000xp8

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#7
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Do you still have the original distributor and coil?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
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#8
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #8
I agree with others. It shouldn't misfire. Did it always misfire after the new build?

You really gotta start at the basics.

Fuel pressure
compression test
vacuum leaks? (smoke test)
spark plug gap and condition?
Condition of all ignition components
Perform cylinder balance test as part of ECU code reading process
 

AnthonyA1234

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#9
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #9
2000xp8 said:
Do you still have the original distributor and coil?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no, when I bought the car it had the MSD dizzy and coil and I replaced them with the same parts during the tune up.
Mustang5L5 said:
I agree with others. It shouldn't misfire. Did it always misfire after the new build?

You really gotta start at the basics.

Fuel pressure
compression test
vacuum leaks? (smoke test)
spark plug gap and condition?
Condition of all ignition components
Perform cylinder balance test as part of ECU code reading process
Click to expand...
Yea it’s always misfired when it’s cold like I said it’ll pop a few times and then run perfect after that. However I don’t remember it misfiring when the car is hot as I mentioned before like it is now. Then again I am driving the car much more now after the rebuild so that could be why I notice it.

Fuel pressure is at 38 psi, vac line off and plugged, the car has new 24lbs light blue FoMoCo injectors, new fuel pump, and new pro-m 24lbs calibrated maf.

Last time I did a smoke test the only place I had smoke was the lower intake gasket which has since been replaced. I’ll do another smoke test tomorrow and see if anything new pops up.

I suspect it could be the plugs as a shop I had a very poor experience with installed them for me. I’ll pull them out and replace them and properly gap them. What is the best spark plug for my car and gap?

All ignition components are brand new.

Last time I did a cylinder balance test everything came out good but I’ll do another tomorrow.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
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#10
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #10
I was going to suggest checking the intake gaskets. A leak there would cause a misfire. Definitely double check
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
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#11
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #11
Dump the plugs and get Autolite 3924. I run these in the same heads.

If you are running a stock fuel pressure regulator then the stock fuel pressure is 38-39 psi. with the vacuum line unhooked and plugged. With ithe vacuum line connected it should be around 30 psi. Seems to me your fuel pressure regulator is fubar. I would get an adjustable one if it were mine but it’s your call.
 

AnthonyA1234

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#12
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #12
AeroCoupe said:
Dump the plugs and get Autolite 3924. I run these in the same heads.

If you are running a stock fuel pressure regulator then the stock fuel pressure is 38-39 psi. with the vacuum line unhooked and plugged. With ithe vacuum line connected it should be around 30 psi. Seems to me your fuel pressure regulator is fubar. I would get an adjustable one if it were mine but it’s your call.
Click to expand...
Ok I’ll get those plugs, what gap should I run?

Yea that’s where my fuel pressure is at, I installed a new kirban adjustable fpr and set it there.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#13
  • Jan 26, 2023
  • #13
If you're still having issues, I would run through this checklist from top to bottom. It pretty much goes through everything so you can't help but find the issue:

Help me create the "Surging Idle Checklist"

Updated 05 July 2022 to add rough idle when cold and smooth idle when up to normal operating temperature. See the EGR tech information, section #15 for more help. Many of you are familiar with the "Cranks OK, but No Start Checklist for Fuel Injected Mustangs" checklist and the No Crank...
stangnet.com
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,253
17,937
224
Massachusetts
Jan 27, 2023
#14
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #14
AnthonyA1234 said:
Ok I’ll get those plugs, what gap should I run?

Yea that’s where my fuel pressure is at, I installed a new kirban adjustable fpr and set it there.
Click to expand...


Start with stock gap for now. 0.052-0.056"
 
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AnthonyA1234

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#15
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #15
AeroCoupe said:
Dump the plugs and get Autolite 3924. I run these in the same heads.

If you are running a stock fuel pressure regulator then the stock fuel pressure is 38-39 psi. with the vacuum line unhooked and plugged. With ithe vacuum line connected it should be around 30 psi. Seems to me your fuel pressure regulator is fubar. I would get an adjustable one if it were mine but it’s your call.
Click to expand...
Is that the Autolite racing 3924 or just the normal Autolite 3924?

The two part numbers are AR3924 and 3924.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#16
  • Jan 27, 2023
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AnthonyA1234 said:
Is that the Autolite racing 3924 or just the normal Autolite 3924?

The two part numbers are AR3924 and 3924.
Click to expand...
The only difference is that one is resistor type and one is not. If you don't want excess noise through the radio and electrical system then always go with the resistor type. In this case, the AR.
 
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AnthonyA1234

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Jan 27, 2023
#17
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #17
Noobz347 said:
The only difference is that one is resistor type and one is not. If you don't want excess noise through the radio and electrical system then always go with the resistor type. In this case, the AR.
Click to expand...
Ok great so then is the resistor type the clear choice then or are there some other cons that come with them over a non resistor
 

AnthonyA1234

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#18
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #18
So I went and bought the plugs and it turns out both the 3924 and the racing 3924 have resistors so I just ended up getting the normal 3924s that I see everyone else in the forums gets to play it safe. They have the little metal seal separate and I believe the larger diameter half of it goes towards the plug and the smaller diameter piece that protrudes more goes towards the head but in online images I see pictures where it’s that way and some where it’s the other. Could anyone verify this for me?
 

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AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
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4,004
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Jan 27, 2023
#19
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #19
I just run the 3924's and that is the way I install the metal rings. I have a lot of stereo in the car with zero noise. I have also replaced all of the grounds and charging cables in my car so that is most likely why I do not have the issue.

I cannot speak on the spark plug gap as my combo is different than yours (more inches, port work on the heads and intakea, and probably shift at a higher rpm) so listen to Mike.
 

AnthonyA1234

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#20
  • Jan 27, 2023
  • #20
Nice alright thanks. I’ll change them on Sunday and let you guys know if I see any difference. Thanks for the help everyone
 
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