The Ford Barn

captaintaytay · 05-09-2015, 03:18 PM

I finally got my Bubba distributor and just installed it.
I'am, (well, I was) confident I had it at TDC.
Checked and re-check my work and tried to start it and bang!.
Big backfire. Do you think I'm 180 off?

George/Maine · 05-09-2015, 03:26 PM

There is a old motor book out there with wrong firing order check Mercury.
Some times 180 out doesn't fire at all.

captaintaytay · 05-09-2015, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George/Maine

There is a old motor book out there with wrong firing order check Mercury.
Some times 180 out doesn't fire at all.

That still leaves me at square one.

39topless · 05-09-2015, 04:30 PM

You may have smoked your power valve with the backfire if it was through the carb.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-09-2015, 04:32 PM

It sounds like it's 180 off. remove no. one spark plug ( front one on drivers side) stick finger in hole, bump starter, when it blows compression out turn engine in the correct rotation to line up timing mark, see if rotor is pointed to no. one in the cap. Walt

George/Maine · 05-09-2015, 04:48 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If you didn't do one wire at a time start over.
TDC the rotor should be at 6 o'clock that's number one go in correct direction for firing order. That 6 o'clock is the ford start #1 and some times marked on cap.

JSeery · 05-09-2015, 05:25 PM

How did you determine TDC?

captaintaytay · 05-09-2015, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSeery

How did you determine TDC?

Filled a bottle half way with oil and ran a tube to #1 cylinder turned over motor by hand until bubbles started and then went the other way until I got it.
It's on the internet somewhere.I got the link from here.

Anyways, distributor was off 180 degrees.
Put it back at proper place and it fired right up, but noticed a clacking sound.
It was coming from the distributor so I put it at TDC again and pulled the distributor out and noticed the distributor shaft has 1/2" of movement up and down. The ends of the rotor screws were hitting the top of where the condenser wire nuts up to the points. My old distributor does not move that much at all.
I did mount it properly pretty basic, but the shaft movement seem excessive.

51 MERC-CT · 05-09-2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

It sounds like it's 180 off. remove no. one spark plug ( front one on drivers side) stick finger in hole, bump starter, when it blows compression out turn engine in the correct rotation to line up timing mark, see if rotor is pointed to no. one in the cap. Walt

"Front one on drivers side"??

JSeery · 05-09-2015, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captaintaytay

Filled a bottle half way with oil and ran a tube to #1 cylinder turned over motor by hand until bubbles started and then went the other way until I got it.
It's on the internet somewhere.I got the link from here.

Anyways, distributor was off 180 degrees.
Put it back at proper place and it fired right up, but noticed a clacking sound.
It was coming from the distributor so I put it at TDC again and pulled the distributor out and noticed the distributor shaft has 1/2" of movement up and down. The ends of the rotor screws were hitting the top of where the condenser wire nuts up to the points. My old distributor does not move that much at all.
I did mount it properly pretty basic, but the shaft movement seem excessive.

Sounds like you figured it out. With your method when you get the bubbles keep turning it the same direction (normal engine rotation) until the bubbles stop. TDC should be somewhere near.

captaintaytay · 05-09-2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSeery

Sounds like you figured it out. With your method when you get the bubbles keep turning it the same direction (normal engine rotation) until the bubbles stop. TDC should be somewhere near.

Yes Sir, it worked great.
But still a problem with new distributor.

Ol' Ron · 05-09-2015, 07:55 PM

The finger will always tell you!!

scooder · 05-10-2015, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captaintaytay

Yes Sir, it worked great.
But still a problem with new distributor.

Speak to bubba, sure he'll fix it.
Martin.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 05-10-2015, 07:03 AM

Cross out that (front drivers side) SHOULD BE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I've got a cold and was all drugged up, I'll blame it on that. Walt

BUBBAS IGNITION · 05-10-2015, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captaintaytay

Yes Sir, it worked great.
But still a problem with new distributor.

Way too much end play, i set them with a shim and run each one on a machine.
Get it back to me , i will fix and return the day i get it back.
Cant imagine how the end p[lay got off that much....

Sorry for any problems ......

Jim at Bubbas

captaintaytay · 05-10-2015, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

Way too much end play, i set them with a shim and run each one on a machine.
Get it back to me , i will fix and return the day i get it back.
Cant imagine how the end p[lay got off that much....

Sorry for any problems ......

Jim at Bubbas

Thanks Jim, PM sent.

captaintaytay · 06-13-2015, 01:48 PM

Just got the chance to put in my Bubba dizzy that Jim fixed.
This is the first time since I have owned this car that it runs so good.
What a difference! Thanks alot Jim, your a heads up guy and a give great customer service. On to the next phase now.

P.S. Thanks also to "Bruce Lancaster" for great advise.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 06-13-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captaintaytay

Just got the chance to put in my Bubba dizzy that Jim fixed.
This is the first time since I have owned this car that it runs so good.
What a difference! Thanks alot Jim, your a heads up guy and a give great customer service. On to the next phase now.

P.S. Thanks also to "Bruce Lancaster" for great advise.

Thanks for the reply , i hate to see a thread of anykind that doest have a closing fix,
The distributor did have a ton of end play , looked like the lower brass bushing had moved upward in the aluminum housing. Beats me how but it did, these are new housings we are using and we will double check them from now on. Thanks again for being patient on the repair.....

Graeme / New Zealand · 06-13-2015, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

Cross out that (front drivers side) SHOULD BE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I've got a cold and was all drugged up, I'll blame it on that. Walt

You'd be right first time in my part of the world Walt

GB

chap52 · 06-14-2015, 06:44 AM

Another "Jim stands by his work" testimonial. A real gentleman. He walked me through a similar mess awhile back. I later discovered that the problem was the "loose nut behind the wrench" DUH! Thanks from all of us Jim.

05-09-2015, 03:26 PM	#2
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 8ba backfire There is a old motor book out there with wrong firing order check Mercury. Some times 180 out doesn't fire at all.

05-09-2015, 04:30 PM	#4
39topless Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,027	Re: 8ba backfire You may have smoked your power valve with the backfire if it was through the carb.

05-09-2015, 04:32 PM	#5
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: 8ba backfire It sounds like it's 180 off. remove no. one spark plug ( front one on drivers side) stick finger in hole, bump starter, when it blows compression out turn engine in the correct rotation to line up timing mark, see if rotor is pointed to no. one in the cap. Walt

05-09-2015, 04:48 PM	#6
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 8ba backfire Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you didn't do one wire at a time start over. TDC the rotor should be at 6 o'clock that's number one go in correct direction for firing order. That 6 o'clock is the ford start #1 and some times marked on cap.

05-09-2015, 05:25 PM	#7
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 8ba backfire How did you determine TDC?

05-09-2015, 03:18 PM	#1
captaintaytay Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Simi Valley, California Posts: 33	8ba backfire I finally got my Bubba distributor and just installed it. I'am, (well, I was) confident I had it at TDC. Checked and re-check my work and tried to start it and bang!. Big backfire. Do you think I'm 180 off? __________________ Really, I'm Trying

05-09-2015, 07:55 PM	#12
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,861	Re: 8ba backfire The finger will always tell you!!

05-10-2015, 07:03 AM	#14
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: 8ba backfire Cross out that (front drivers side) SHOULD BE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I've got a cold and was all drugged up, I'll blame it on that. Walt

06-13-2015, 01:48 PM	#17
captaintaytay Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Simi Valley, California Posts: 33	Re: 8ba backfire Just got the chance to put in my Bubba dizzy that Jim fixed. This is the first time since I have owned this car that it runs so good. What a difference! Thanks alot Jim, your a heads up guy and a give great customer service. On to the next phase now. P.S. Thanks also to "Bruce Lancaster" for great advise. __________________ Really, I'm Trying

06-14-2015, 06:44 AM	#20
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: 8ba backfire Another "Jim stands by his work" testimonial. A real gentleman. He walked me through a similar mess awhile back. I later discovered that the problem was the "loose nut behind the wrench" DUH! Thanks from all of us Jim.