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Old 01-06-2020, 10:37 PM   #1
trentclark
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Default 8BA doesnt have power

Hey guys. just starting to get my 47 pickup on the road with the newly rebuilt 8BA. It has the ford 94 carb rebuilt, edelbrock elect fuel pump, stock dizzy w vac advance, stock 8BA heads, headers to cherry bombs, standard 3 speed. its 12 volt neg ground.

I spent a lot of time on the road getting it to run smoothly. kept adjusting the timing and fuel mixture. timing at 475rpm is 4 deg btdc. had to restab the dizzy one tooth counter clockwise to get to 4 btdc but the vacuum advance is against the water neck and cannot back counter clockwise any more. if I have it one tooth clockwise, it almost is on a belt. carb mixture is about 1.5 turns open. sounds great at idle but when I need power to get up a hill it really struggles. it doesn't backfire or die but just doesn't have the pop to get up the hill. If i'm on a flat to downhill road i can hit 45 in 3rd. If im going the other way on a slight incline i cannot get past 30 in 3rd.



any ideas of what I am doing wrong. any help is appreciated. God Bless
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Old 01-06-2020, 10:41 PM   #2
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Look at a mechanical advance dizzy. Bubba/charlie/etc ...all here. less worries. It will be a lot of little things that add up to overall power.

Last edited by Tinker; 01-06-2020 at 10:50 PM.
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Old 01-06-2020, 10:56 PM   #3
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

If you watch the timing marks (using a timing light) at idle, then speed the engine up to 2000 rpm does it advance?

The stock distributors are not a very good setup but should do better than what you describe.



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Old 01-06-2020, 11:08 PM   #4
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Just to be sure, where is the distributer vacuum line connected?
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Old 01-06-2020, 11:26 PM   #5
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Tinker, I will look at the mech dizzy. dont know anything about them.

Cadillac 512, it does advance so its working. I have a bosch timing light and it shows the rpms and advance.
the distributor vacuum is attached to a port in the back of the carb. hmmm?
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Old 01-06-2020, 11:32 PM   #6
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

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I'm not a fan of the original vacuum distributors, but some are. I would go with the converted Chevy. You can get them as full mechanical or with both. Full mechanical is much easier to set up.
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:04 AM   #7
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

JSeery, thanks. I will look into that. Bubba/Charlie know that I understand.


as to your first question, do I have the vacuum advance connected in the right port? I have another port in the carb base plate, not sure of the difference.
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:15 AM   #8
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

would I be nuts to go with a newer electronic MSD dizzy?
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Old 01-07-2020, 03:43 AM   #9
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

It sounds like you have the distributor hooked up to the proper vacuum port, and it does seen to be working from your description. I personally would take another try at re-installing the stock distributor. I have a lot of experience with them and you should not be having the trouble you are with the distributor fouling on other engine parts. Are you sure you didn't move it two teeth? Also, are you sure the rest of your ignition system (points, condenser, coil) are up to snuff? There are a lot of bad components out there lately. I would try to get the stock setup running before I would spend good money on an aftermarket electronic distributor. Contrary to a lot of misinformation out there, the stock ignition system on these engines works just fine if properly set up with the proper carburetor.

Oh yeah, the "bump" on the stock front pulley is at 4 degrees BTDC and is where the ignition should be set, not 4 degrees before it.

Also, remember the old saying : "90% of all ignition problems are carburetion related and vice-versa".
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Old 01-07-2020, 04:45 AM   #10
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Ypou might want to browse this thread : https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274603. He had a similar problem and finally solved it. I'm not saying that this is what is going on in your situation, but it just shows the variety of things that can cause such problems (and their solutions).
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Old 01-07-2020, 05:52 AM   #11
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Did you in fact insure that when the distributor was located with the number one position located at 6 o'clock the number one piston is located at top dead center?? (top of compression stroke)
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Old 01-07-2020, 07:50 AM   #12
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Tubman has got a good idea. I run the stock load a matic & it works fine with the stock carb. Isky cam & Offy heads. 51 Merc's sugestion is on the mark too.
Love your truck !!!!
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Old 01-07-2020, 08:46 AM   #13
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Quote:
Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT View Post
Did you in fact insure that when the distributor was located with the number one position located at 6 o'clock the number one piston is located at top dead center?? (top of compression stroke)
That is my thought too. I also experienced it where some bone head (me) when he replaced the timing gear managed to get it a couple of teeth out of time... Strangely it actually ran, no power and sputtered and backfired a lot. Seeing as how this is "confession" time... Remember these flatheads are cyl. are numbered front to back, 1-4 on passenger side, 5-8 on the drivers side. Hooking up the wires to the distributor in a "Chevy" pattern will also impact the power...
Thanks, I feel better now having gotten these transgressions off of chest. I understand that there is no statute of limitations for these... Chap
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Old 01-07-2020, 09:26 AM   #14
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Something not mentioned was point dwell which should be 27 degrees, and has to be verified before setting any initial timing. The timing bump on the pulley is 2 degrees BTDC and will provide good performance, but some additional advance is usually better, depending on fuel quality, altitude, driving habits etc.

Last edited by V8 Bob; 01-07-2020 at 09:58 AM.
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Old 01-07-2020, 11:15 AM   #15
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Remove your distributor and install it so it doesn't touch anything and can be fully adjusted. Then check: firing order, condition of spark plug wires, cracks or carbon tracks in dist. cap, rotor and make sure vacuum diafraghm (spelling) is working. Do you have any vacuum leaks?
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:16 PM   #16
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Thanks, all good advice (and confessions). ill go thru every comment this weekend and hope to find the issue. I do want to keep it as stock as possible. ill let you know what i find. God Bless
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Old 01-07-2020, 03:07 PM   #17
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Just so we have the full picture, Trent, is the vehicle the one in your avatar?

It looks quite low, what size are the rear tires??

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Old 01-07-2020, 03:57 PM   #18
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

A defective condenser will seriously affect engine power. This is because a weak or open condenser will not allow the coil to be fully charged, resulting in a weak spark at the plugs. We reuse condensers rather that rely on the poor quality of those now sold.
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Old 01-07-2020, 06:24 PM   #19
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

When an otherwise fine running flathead all of a sudden has not much power it can also be that the spring strap on one of the sets of points has broken. The engine will run on one set of points but not real well due to lack of dwell. Not the case here but something to keep in mind on dual point setups.
I suspect the Loadmatic which needs everything perfect to perform adequately or not on right tooth of drive..
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Old 01-07-2020, 10:49 PM   #20
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Mart, the avatar is the truck, I did lower it a few inches. the tires are 255/60R15. a little shorter than the stock tires i assume. Nice head stud removal video btw.

Supereal, I will swap out the condensor. does anyone like Napa sell good ones anymore?
Deuce Roadster, its a single point Loadmatic, set to .015 clearance. I think that is correct.

Ill load some photos once I remember how to do it, been a while.
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Old 01-07-2020, 11:18 PM   #21
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

All, just remembered another clue. when I hit the gas hard it coughs and almost dies. I have to ease into the throttle. it makes a big sucking sound. any thoughts?
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Old 01-08-2020, 05:10 AM   #22
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

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All, just remembered another clue. when I hit the gas hard it coughs and almost dies. I have to ease into the throttle. it makes a big sucking sound. any thoughts?
Sounds like you have to address the operation of the accelerator pump.
First try with stroke set to winter (farthest outward position) if no improvement then it may need replacement.
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Old 01-08-2020, 10:53 AM   #23
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

I would say that the carburetor needs another rebuild.
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Old 01-08-2020, 12:33 PM   #24
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Short story...
A local friend here in Indy builds some of the faster and best sprint cars engines in the country . studiess ever little detail and has a dyno for engines , all recieve a test run before shiiping etc . So hes very qualified.
He bought a basket case 39 for a few years ag and rebuit with great care the engine, ignition was a helmet , that built for him.
He ran the engine on his dyn and came to my shop and siad this isnt working , the engine would make 71 HP !!! I went over it with a fine toothed comb and found NOTHING that wasnt perfect!!
Called Charlie ( on the forum) andhe says to me , put some csh into the carb and ship it to me.
I did, got it back and my friend ( who had rebult the carb twice ) dynoed the engine and now makes 110 hp !!!!!
JUst another suggestion ?????
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Old 01-08-2020, 01:00 PM   #25
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Are the brakes dragging ?
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Old 01-08-2020, 11:33 PM   #26
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good advice on the carb. ill check the accel. pump connection. been a while since I rebuilt it (three times) and cannot remember its position.

help me find Charlie. might need his magic touch
i dont think the brakes are dragging but will check. if free rolls well.
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Old 01-08-2020, 11:45 PM   #27
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

A think most of go to's are here..

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269580



Charlie I hope this is okay? I believe Charlie is dealing with some family issues. God bless.
Charlie is Charlieny here, maybe send a nice pm. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/member.php?u=1147






.

Last edited by Tinker; 01-09-2020 at 12:33 AM.
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Old 01-09-2020, 09:16 AM   #28
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Big sucking sound? Like an old man running, mouth open sucking for air. thats starving
for fuel . Must have grabbed dirt or something, main jets venturies plugged or the power valve took a dump. As 51 Merc said it won't hurt to go to winter on the acc. pump I run
mine there all year, But the acc. pump mainly comes into place for cold starts. Old cure
sometimes, race it up put hand over carb just to about stall it. And 'sometimes' that piece
of dirt may get sucked out up, by vacuum. I wrote this here many times, engine off
throttle wide open and shoot shop air in each venturie you should get a good fuel mist
on each side - a good good strong atomized mist. I bet thats ya problem sam
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Old 01-10-2020, 02:46 PM   #29
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Thanks for all the help. ill let you know what I find out.
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Old 01-26-2020, 12:08 AM   #30
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Okay, pulled the dizzy, I had #1 at 12:00 so i reworked it at 6:00 and it now starts cold without choke or pumping the gas. not sure why that would matter but it surely did. set the timing at the bump (4 btdc per Tubman) at 475 rpm. swapped out the condenser with one i took off it years ago. checked the vacuum, it has 15 psi. seems a bit low but there are not any leaks, only two vacuum ports, one for vac advance, the other at the carb base for the wipers (not installed and plugged). not sure why the vacuum would be low, shouldnt it be around 25 psi?

I tore into the carb (94 ford) and found that the jets were not matching, one was a 35, the other a 48. looked like the fuel issue. took two 51 jets off another carb, new accel pump plunger, new gaskets and really took the time to clean and blow out all passages, all was clean. oh, and a new power valve. I had 4 power valves in my parts box and two were new or unused. set accel pump stroke to the winter position. vaporizes very well from the pump nozzle (#70).



Did a dry compression test and all ranged between 90-115. ill do it again wet and i assume they will even out.



Still if I hit the gas hard, it dies. It still makes this large sucking sound. if you ease into it it will rev up nicely. thought maybe my electric pump was not giving enough fuel. I ran the pump by itself into a cup and had a nice steady stream of fuel. its an edlebrock pump, now and 3-4 psi. emptied the tank and put in fresh gas, no change.



ill post the video on youtube and post the link so you can see it. still puzzled.
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Old 01-26-2020, 12:40 AM   #31
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

video of engine running. when I accelerate it sucks thru the carb loudly and wants to die. audio doesn't demonstrate this well

https://youtu.be/taB7EqcCGmM
video of carb vaporizing when accelerating. seems to be doing what it should but will die if I do this quickly.

https://youtu.be/igmAtT0fcqs


any tips. I know I am missing something simple. hell, almost 40 years ago I put this truck together with no knowledge and drove it every day. has to be something simple. thanks and God Bless.
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Old 01-26-2020, 04:12 AM   #32
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

I couldn't see clearly enough in the video but do you have the correct carb base with the (can't remember the name) valve in it? It looks a bit like a power valve.

Also, probably not directly related, but why does the carb not close properly?

If you suck on the pipe leading to the vac advance does the engine speed change due to the timing advancing/retarding? I'm thinking of it as a way to test the vac diaphrahm.

Edit:
In the second video I can't see two clear squirts of fuel from the accelerator pump. Is it working? Did you make sure the check ball in the small bore at the base of the accelerator pump bore is not stuck?
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Old 01-26-2020, 08:35 AM   #33
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

It's all a matter of perspective. If you are a "purist" then by all means suffer the issues with the old Ford carbs and the load 'o' matic dis. Parts to service them are becoming increasingly difficult to come by AND much of it is repop from offshore of dubious quality.

Chevy distribs converted over to electronic are the way to go OR the MSD. Many of us more interest in driving our cars are using the later GM type (50s) 4 bbl carbs. Pretty bullet proof eliminating most of the fuel issues.

We've been running our 49 for 25 years with the above setup and outside of regular oil changes and greasings pretty maintenance free.
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Old 01-26-2020, 10:54 AM   #34
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

On the other hand, I drove my bone stock '51 club coupe for 31 years (1987-2018) without missing a beat, 94, Load-a-Matic, and all. These are simple machines to work on and I never had a problem with availability of parts. If you want a modified engine, that's just fine, but if you want good running stocker, it's probably much cheaper and easier. Sending your Load-a-Matic to "Bubba" and your carb to Charlie will be much cheaper than buying a 4BBL manifold, finding a decent small base 4G or WCFB and having it properly rebuilt, on top of having a SBC distributor converted. BTW, have you seen the prices on cores for those carburetors these days. By the time you find decent core and have it rebuilt, you will probably be north of $500. A new 390 Holley is probably a lot cheaper, even with the price of the adapter.

The reason that I pulled the stock engine in 2018 is because I had a built Mercury sitting on a stand that I was just itching to install. It's got a lot more power and is just better all around, but a stock engine served me just fine for 31 years.
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Old 01-26-2020, 11:53 AM   #35
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Mart, the carb base doesnt have the valve. the ball in the accel pump is free. when I timed the engine with the vac advance plugged then unplug it the timing does change so the pull off does work. video is not clear but it squirts two nice sprays of fuel.

Gene, a bit of a purist if I can make it work. i know it can run with stock parts well and want to do this first. I have a holley 390 and edelbrock intake but just wanted to keep it stock for now. I want to channel Tubman and drive it stock for the next 31 years if I want to and upgrade it if I want to, not because I had too.

Thanks for the comments. I might just get Bubba and Charlie involved. sometimes you need to go to a higher authority. God Bless
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Old 01-26-2020, 12:13 PM   #36
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Thankx Trent. Good on you. I did the same (purist) for many years and Tubman is right. It can be done.
I thought about the Holly but there are many mixed reviews on them. The Holly does not take long term storage well. The metering plate and bowel gaskets dry out and you are disassembling it. The early GMs work well and are a good choice.
Bubba and Charley are mentors on this board and good choices to lean on. One of them (I think) years ago did some dyno pulls tuning advance rates. Surprisingly, more/quicker killed the torque curve. Impossible to tune for using the load'o'matic.
Anyways, Every time they write something I always am intrigued and marvel at their knowledge.
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Old 01-26-2020, 12:27 PM   #37
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Just a side note. I really like the small base 4G's as well. I got real lucky and found a matched pair (both from '53 Olds Stick cars!) that I rebuilt for an early Offenhauser dual quad on a '51 Rocket. That was about 5 years ago. Lately, I cannot find a decent core for under $100 (on eBay, a lot more). Even small base 2G's are getting difficult to find and expensive. This led to my ill-fated project of trying to put a quadrajet on a flathead.
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Old 01-26-2020, 12:38 PM   #38
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Trent. The 94 for the 8BA has a different base. It has a secondary port that has a special valve in it. I don't know the exact functionality of it but it is part of the loadamatic vac advance signal system.
Do you have a spare carb with that type of base? It might make a difference. I don't know.
Millions of people did billions of miles in Fords of that era without having Chevy distributors and GM carbs, and ran better than yours does. There is something wrong. My cars run great on 94s but not without some dialing in.

Can anybody say how important the correct carb base is?

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Old 01-26-2020, 01:27 PM   #39
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

From what I remember, 8BA carburetors did not have a "spark valve" (that thing that looks like a power valve that screws into the carb base). That is on later carbs (2100's and 2110's). If you do have one of those, it should run fine, if it has the proper distributor vacuum.
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Old 01-26-2020, 02:43 PM   #40
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Try what Chap 52 says (,Valve timing ),,remove a spark plug and look at the position of the valve you should be able to see the inlet valve ( I think ) and what's its position in relation to the TDC mark, .You could also pull the front cover to check the marks .
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Old 01-26-2020, 03:30 PM   #41
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

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From what I remember, 8BA carburetors did not have a "spark valve" (that thing that looks like a power valve that screws into the carb base). That is on later carbs (2100's and 2110's). If you do have one of those, it should run fine, if it has the proper distributor vacuum.
Correct. The 8BA carbs do not have the spark valve in the base.
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Old 01-26-2020, 03:36 PM   #42
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video of engine running. when I accelerate it sucks thru the carb loudly and wants to die. audio doesn't demonstrate this well

https://youtu.be/taB7EqcCGmM
video of carb vaporizing when accelerating. seems to be doing what it should but will die if I do this quickly.

https://youtu.be/igmAtT0fcqs


any tips. I know I am missing something simple. hell, almost 40 years ago I put this truck together with no knowledge and drove it every day. has to be something simple. thanks and God Bless.
Definetly a problem with the accelerator pump. Do you have it set for maximum stroke?
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Old 01-26-2020, 05:38 PM   #43
FlatheadTed
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

One other thing to consider if you have run it with old fuel it can coat the plugs even with fresh fuel in it ,we had a 29 Dodge in the shop it was missing we did everything ,it sounded like a carb issue bolted the carb up to a 26 Chev it ran fine so that eliminated that , put new plugs in it and Bingo !
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Old 01-27-2020, 12:21 AM   #44
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

When I swapped the engine into my F1, I ended up with a coil/external resistor miss-match that wouldn't allow it to pull hard or rev above approx 2500 rpm. Acted just like a fuel starvation issue. I by-passed the resistor and all was good. I now use the blue Bosch that Bubba recommends.
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Old 01-28-2020, 06:59 PM   #45
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

ill be checking back in when weather gets better to do more work. I did pm CharlieNY to see about a carb rebuild.



I have (4) 94 carbs but only one is rebuilt. All have the same base with AA-1 on it. and dont see any valve or other component on them. Ill pull the cover and head and make sure the timing is correct. Im an punctilious re-builder and if I got this off, its major confession time.
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Old 01-28-2020, 07:12 PM   #46
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Art, I have a Napa IC14 coil which is internally resisted. I have a flamethrower that I might put on it just to see if the coil or its internal resister is bad. thats something I have not checked yet. thanks God Bless
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Old 01-29-2020, 12:37 PM   #47
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Believe the Flamethrower coils come in both 1.5 & 3.0 ohms, so you would want to check and see what it is.
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Old 01-29-2020, 04:27 PM   #48
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Just check that you don't have the early inlet manifold were the heat riser hole lines up with the 94 ,
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Old 01-29-2020, 10:12 PM   #49
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Yeah the flame thrower is not going to help you on a standard dizzy. Backup and fix one thing right at a time. Not a big deal till you start driving it a while.

If you want the vac advance, look at charlie to do your carb and dizzy.

If you want mechanical advance, charlie or bubba can do that. Skip on coil. including cans.

Surrender and let them set it up. It's a good starting point, till you find someone local or even then. Sometimes it takes time. I'm a fan of starting and running stock first, then mod.



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Old 02-03-2020, 04:32 PM   #50
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

Flathead Ted, what does "check that you don't have the early inlet manifold were the heat riser hole lines up with the 94" mean.

I did swap intake manifolds with this rebuild but still have the old one. what do I look for? I don't know what the heat riser hole will look like. Thanks for the help, God Bless.
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Old 02-03-2020, 04:46 PM   #51
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

See that hole half way between the two front carb studs? You don't want an intake with that hole if you are running a 94.



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Old 02-03-2020, 05:22 PM   #52
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Mart, thanks! ill check it out.
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Old 02-03-2020, 10:57 PM   #53
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can someone help me post photos? thanks.
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Old 02-03-2020, 10:59 PM   #54
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https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...dding+pictures


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...dding+pictures


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...dding+pictures




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Old 02-03-2020, 11:53 PM   #55
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testing
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File Type: jpg carb photo 1.jpg (49.6 KB, 29 views)
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Old 02-03-2020, 11:54 PM   #56
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Hey it worked. nothing to see here just testing. Thanks Tinker!
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Old 02-06-2020, 12:01 AM   #57
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mart, flatheadted, no heat riser hole. stock manifold doesnt have one. something stupid is going on. ill keep tinkering.....

BTW, I dug up the old 94 that I had on it as a teenager and drove this truck all the time. it has a hole drilled in the carb above the accel pump plunger. not sure who did this, wasnt me but it ran like a champ. is there a reason to do this. Here is a photo.
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Old 02-06-2020, 12:06 AM   #58
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I have a goodguys event comeing up in March. I have to drive this to the event regardless. ill push it if I have too. God Bless. thanks for your help.



I have not heard from CharlieNY or Bubba. I hope they are doing fine. I want to visit these guys fairly soon and see what they do. I can spend some time with them and want to carry on their knowledge. let me know if you hear from them.
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Old 02-06-2020, 12:23 AM   #59
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I pulled all the plugs and all a re black so i am running rich, some were black-wet. I have black residue below the exhaust pipes on my drive. I have the 94 adjusters out only 1 turn and still seems rich.



I think I have a vacuum leak somewhere which will account for the low vacuum pressure of 15 psi. Ill double check the intake and fuel pump block-off when the weather gets better. Man, I need a heated shop! God Bless you all....
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Old 02-06-2020, 04:30 AM   #60
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

That hole in the carb is correct. Not all have it though. It's a vent. Some have the vent but routed internally.
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Old 02-06-2020, 09:42 AM   #61
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trentclark View Post
I pulled all the plugs and all a re black so i am running rich, some were black-wet. I have black residue below the exhaust pipes on my drive. I have the 94 adjusters out only 1 turn and still seems rich.

I think I have a vacuum leak somewhere which will account for the low vacuum pressure of 15 psi. Ill double check the intake and fuel pump block-off when the weather gets better. Man, I need a heated shop! God Bless you all....
Rich and a vacuum leak are working in different directions. A vacuum leak would normally lead to lean condition, so correcting it would cause it to be even more rich. Of course you need to correct both issues. The carburetor issue could be from many internal leak sources, incorrect float level, needle valve not seating, etc.
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Old 02-06-2020, 09:33 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trentclark View Post
mart, flatheadted, no heat riser hole. stock manifold doesnt have one. something stupid is going on. ill keep tinkering.....

BTW, I dug up the old 94 that I had on it as a teenager and drove this truck all the time. it has a hole drilled in the carb above the accel pump plunger. not sure who did this, wasnt me but it ran like a champ. is there a reason to do this. Here is a photo.
I just assembled a "Franken-Holley 94" for the engine on my stand and it had that hole in it also, It was a "EC" model.
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Old 02-07-2020, 07:37 AM   #63
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

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Just a side note. I really like the small base 4G's as well. I got real lucky and found a matched pair (both from '53 Olds Stick cars!) that I rebuilt for an early Offenhauser dual quad on a '51 Rocket. That was about 5 years ago. Lately, I cannot find a decent core for under $100 (on eBay, a lot more). Even small base 2G's are getting difficult to find and expensive. This led to my ill-fated project of trying to put a quadrajet on a flathead.

I ran into the same problem trying to find a WCFB in rebuildable condition, prices were $200+. Ended up going the 390 Holley route. Not the look I wanted but performance is good and a dog dish air cleaner cover hides most of the carb.
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Old 02-10-2020, 11:30 PM   #64
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Update, found a few things out. I decided to rebuild one of my 94 cores, tore two apart and one had an extra part I didnt know existed. looked at the rebuild diagram and item 42-pump discharge needle. it wasnt in my current carb, took it apart and added it. Also, wondered if all 8 cylinders were firing. put a spark light thingy between the plug and wire and showed signal to all 8. used my timing light and put the plug wire lead on each wire. #2 and #6 did not send a strobe of light. I figured the plugs were fouling somehow. They are champion rh10c. swapped them out with some new Autolites and now I have 8 cylinders firing. explains the rich exhaust and no power. has much more power now and can hit 50 mph in 3rd. still wants to backfire out the exhaust when I push it to full throttle. I played with the timing back and forth and couldnt get past the backfire over 2000 rpm. Ill rebuild the second carb this week and put it on to see if it is carb related. if not, Ive talked to bubba about rebuilding my loadamatic dizzy. getting closer which is nice. felt good going 50 mph for once.
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Old 02-10-2020, 11:36 PM   #65
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Default Re: 8BA doesnt have power

one more somewhat unrelated question. I have an 8BA with an 8RT dipstick. I have two dipsticks (no teenage kids intended) the other one doesnt have a stamp of which motor it goes with. I cannot find anything on the internet about which one might fit the 8BA. photo uploads are failing so Ill send photos when I figure that out. God Bless.
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