The Ford Barn

Clem Clement · 07-07-2013, 05:25 PM

Today I was helping a friend with his dissy. We had the usual problems but thought we timed it right. No start. Spark to the plugs. Act's like it is 180 out. I used a B cam that I had in my junk box. It fired a couple of times with smoke coming out around 2 exhaust gaskets. That's why I think we did it wrong. He will reinstall the A cam and see what happened.

Patrick L. · 07-07-2013, 06:25 PM

Cam ? Do you mean distributor cam or camshaft ? I think you meant distributor cam, but, had to ask. My junk boxes will hold a camshaft.
You are trying to set the timing [ lever up] with #1 on TDC compression stroke with the little pin in its dimple and the rotor pointed toward #1 in the distributor cap [ right headlight] ? Again, had to ask.

Clem Clement · 07-07-2013, 08:31 PM

YES to Patrick L. All the above. In dissy B cam came from my pile old dissy parts. I had tagged it as a B and we noted the rise on the cam was smoother that the cam he had. When I left he was going to reinstall the A cam and see if that helped. We had OK spark at the plugs. We used the same body and rotor as before the problem started.

Patrick L. · 07-07-2013, 08:58 PM

Whats the story with this engine/car ? How did this problem come about ? Does the dimple, piston and rotor all come together as they should ? I'm wondering if there is a timing gear problem. Also, when cranking is the engine drawing ? Maybe the cylinders are dry ?

1931 flamingo · 07-08-2013, 10:42 AM

B cam should make no difference, I believe that's all the vendor's now sell.
If you've got spark at the plugs it ought to run. Try re-timing it. Is the rotor turning ?? Ooops, it must be if you've got spark at the plugs.
Paul in CT

Clem Clement · 07-08-2013, 10:48 AM

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Could we have put a Nurex set of points instead of regular A? I remember some years back there were a load of points going around the fit something like a '40 Plymouth and the rubbing block was 30degs off? This makes no sense.

Clem Clement · 07-08-2013, 01:27 PM

My bud changed the dissy cam back to the A version and the engine fired right up. He put the B cam in and is also fired up. He took it out for a run today and it runs better now that it ever has since he bought it. He does say it fusses a bit around 30 mph. Plus he wants to tweak the timing again.
I told him to put them tools away and git 'er on the road!!!!

H. L. Chauvin · 07-08-2013, 01:42 PM

Hi Clem,

That is a new one!

E. g., never knew Marie LaVeau's Spirit went as far as north as Virginia to spook Model A's.

Patrick L. · 07-08-2013, 02:35 PM

'STUFF' happens, doesn't it ?

07-07-2013, 06:25 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Spark but no start Cam ? Do you mean distributor cam or camshaft ? I think you meant distributor cam, but, had to ask. My junk boxes will hold a camshaft. You are trying to set the timing [ lever up] with #1 on TDC compression stroke with the little pin in its dimple and the rotor pointed toward #1 in the distributor cap [ right headlight] ? Again, had to ask.

07-07-2013, 08:31 PM	#3
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Spark but no start YES to Patrick L. All the above. In dissy B cam came from my pile old dissy parts. I had tagged it as a B and we noted the rise on the cam was smoother that the cam he had. When I left he was going to reinstall the A cam and see if that helped. We had OK spark at the plugs. We used the same body and rotor as before the problem started.

07-07-2013, 08:58 PM	#4
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Spark but no start Whats the story with this engine/car ? How did this problem come about ? Does the dimple, piston and rotor all come together as they should ? I'm wondering if there is a timing gear problem. Also, when cranking is the engine drawing ? Maybe the cylinders are dry ?

07-08-2013, 10:42 AM	#5
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Spark but no start B cam should make no difference, I believe that's all the vendor's now sell. If you've got spark at the plugs it ought to run. Try re-timing it. Is the rotor turning ?? Ooops, it must be if you've got spark at the plugs. Paul in CT

07-08-2013, 10:48 AM	#6
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Spark but no start Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Could we have put a Nurex set of points instead of regular A? I remember some years back there were a load of points going around the fit something like a '40 Plymouth and the rubbing block was 30degs off? This makes no sense.

07-07-2013, 05:25 PM	#1
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Spark but no start Today I was helping a friend with his dissy. We had the usual problems but thought we timed it right. No start. Spark to the plugs. Act's like it is 180 out. I used a B cam that I had in my junk box. It fired a couple of times with smoke coming out around 2 exhaust gaskets. That's why I think we did it wrong. He will reinstall the A cam and see what happened.

07-08-2013, 01:27 PM	#7
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Spark but no start My bud changed the dissy cam back to the A version and the engine fired right up. He put the B cam in and is also fired up. He took it out for a run today and it runs better now that it ever has since he bought it. He does say it fusses a bit around 30 mph. Plus he wants to tweak the timing again. I told him to put them tools away and git 'er on the road!!!!

07-08-2013, 01:42 PM	#8
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Spark but no start Hi Clem, That is a new one! E. g., never knew Marie LaVeau's Spirit went as far as north as Virginia to spook Model A's.

07-08-2013, 02:35 PM	#9
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Spark but no start 'STUFF' happens, doesn't it ?