'36 running bad then good

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

'36 21 stud stock, dual Fenton with 94's, rebuilt with 3.5 PV and 48 jets. Distributor redone by Skip in Fla., no thermostats. Coil done by Skip a few years ago. At first start up, idles OK...driving runs very rough....like the choke is on, the more acceleration, the worse it runs. I barely make it around the block, shut it off, wait a minute or two....starts right up and runs and drives great. Any thoughts?

[AnthonyG]

When you indicate "sounds like choke is on" does it smell that way as well ( as it would if choke was on and running very rich?

[rockfla]

How long does the car sit between drives???

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

No gas smell when running rough. I checked the plugs...nice tan color. The car will sit for a week....sometimes more, that doesn't seem to make a difference. I went to the So. Cal. open house some time ago...usual scenario as described above. Parked it there, looked around for a few hours, got in to drive home, no problem. It happens only when it sits for a few days...

[rockfla]

I'm NO 94 expert, I can tell you on our 32, every time before we run it we "lightly" tap the carb bowl on the DL carb because the float sticks!!! If you don't it can gush gas out the accelerator pump rod or won't crank at all, if you don't tap the bowl.. Just a thought....again no carb or 94 expert.

[rockfla]

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But our car will sit for longer periods than you described.

[39topless]

Just a guess but it sounds like you may have crud in the carb that gets dislodged from the holes it is clogging once it warms up. Taking the carb off and checking all the orifices is not that hard to do. That's where I would start. Good Luck

[AnthonyG]

X2 what 39topless said. Check inside the hole where the needle valve the float operates. If there's dirt in there your symtoms could occur also if your needle is the type with rubber tip and is breaking down (replace with all metal one with no rubber as alchdohol in fuel breaks down rubber).
If that doesn't do it change your coil. Some times when they are going bad they can give your symtoms until warmed up after sitting a while. Eventually will not run right even after warming up. Coils are weird critters and frequently are bad rebuilt or new.

[BrianCT]

Sounds like not enough choke when motor is cold.

do you use choke until motor warms up?

[AnthonyG]

Are you running progressive or direct throttle linkage?

[Tinker]

Too much gas for the engine. What kind of vacuum are you getting? Is this a stock motor?

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

Thanks for all the help....blew out carbs when I rebuilt them....I'll do it again....all metal needle, polished it with 2000 grit, plus, I use MMO in the tank, I don't think it's sticking....I'll check....Direct linkage....When first start, I use the choke, doesn't seem to make a difference when I drive....Stock engine....I'm sending Skip another coil...

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

Vacuum at idle bounces between 15-17.....

[FlatheadTed]

Voltage drop .Set up a wire with alligator clips and run it direct to resistor trial (1) .next test ruin it direct to the coil ,if things improve then look for a voltage drop in the ING switch, bad join etc. .Ted

[MGG]

How old is your gasoline? I had some year old gasoline in my tank which was causing symptoms similar to what you describe. I got rid of the old gasoline put in new, and treated the system for moisture. Problem gone!

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

Fresh gas... I drive it once a week...I need time to try all the suggestions and I'll report back....Thanks to all!

[Kahuna]

Highly fluctuation of the vacuum gauge needle maybe indicates a valve sticking.
Then, after running frees up? Just a thought

[Mike..Yorba Linda]

Found the issue and wanted to report back. Bad condenser. When the condenser got hot, it ran better. Thanks for all the tips, found in an old thread someone had a similar problem......

[39topless]

Originally Posted by Mike..Yorba Linda

Found the issue and wanted to report back. Bad condenser. When the condenser got hot, it ran better. Thanks for all the tips, found in an old thread someone had a similar problem......

Thanks for reporting back. Happy you got it fixed. You may want to throw a spare condenser in your glove box.
Phil

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by Mike..Yorba Linda

Found the issue and wanted to report back. Bad condenser. When the condenser got hot, it ran better. Thanks for all the tips, found in an old thread someone had a similar problem......

I would be very surprised if you found the problem. You say it ran better
when the condenser got hot??? if that's the case it's the first one I ever
heard of. They all break down when hot. G.M.