How do you diagnose the problem? Since obviously there are no computers on old trucks, and I'm looking at a early 1950-60s truck, How do you figure out what went wrong?
now I read this and I had to stop and wonder,
about the newer generations approach to vehicle maintenance,
and the mind set of the younger members, who never dealt ,
with a basic pre-computer controlled, non-efi engine.
yes its totally understandable if your less than 25 years old,
mostly because you were raised well after the majority of cars no longer were built using ,
the older basic automotive systems most of us older geezers were brought up working with.
you need too understand the basics of how an engine operates,
think logically and start with testing the basics
verify
hot ignition SPARK correctly timed at the spark plugs
consistent, FUEL,delivery and volume control
consistent ,and adequate cylinder to cylinder COMPRESSION
and yes theres the potential for mechanical based issues like a worn cam,
mis-adjusted valves , or sub systems like cooling or oil pressure
,the key, is, logically think things through, isolate and test, never assume anything, verify your results.
youll want to start verifying compression, verify you have fuel pressure,at the carb inlet port, verify the carb float levels are correct, verifying your ignition spark is arriving at the spark plugs and verifying the engines timing with a timing light.
the first step is to pull a plug wire off a spark plug and hold it by inserting a #2 Phillips screw driver blade with a plastic handle into the spark plug wire and holding the insulated handle while holding the exposed metal of the screw-driver shaft about 1/4" from the engines metal surface, and having someone try too start the car, the plug wire should arc to ground intermittently.
if you remove the fuel line from the carbs inlet port and add a 6 foot section of 3/8" rubber fuel line carefully and securely clamped to the existing fuel feed line , so you can allow the fuel pump to feed fuel into a empty 2 liter bottle it should fill that at least 1/2 and preferably totally in less than 45 seconds of cranking the engine on the starter.
you can pull each spark plug and use a compression tester to verify your getting compression, the results should not vary more than 5%-8% between cylinders.
a fuel pressure gauge,
a multi meter,
vacuum gauge,
a compression test kit,
a leak-down test kit is optional but useful
a timing light
and a dwell meter
https://itstillruns.com/use-tach-dwell-meter-5527498.html
https://www.howacarworks.com/ignition-system/checking-the-dwell-angle
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/sources-for-auto-tools.217/#post-70533
and you'll want too locate,
borrow or buy the tools required,
and do the research and read up on,
the instructions too correctly use those tools,
as that skill will prove very useful
step one would be to, verify exactly what your dealing with,
do a compression & LEAK DOWN test,
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/leak-down-test.332/#post-14272
cylinder pressure can leak past the valve seats, past the rings, past a faulty head gasket and theres also potentially cracks in cylinder heads or bore walls,
but Id point out that failure to check all the cylinders renders any leak-down test basically less than useful.
and to accurately measure the current cam lobe/valve lift,
http://www.igagingstore.com/MAGNETIC-BASE-FLEXIBLE-FLEX-ARM-001-DIAL-INDICAT-p/203957.htm
dial indicator with stand
verify the ignition timing advance curve
and post clear, detailed color pictures of your spark plugs, labled as to cylinder location.
what does a vacuum gauge show?
http://www.earlycuda.org/tech/vacuum2.htm
http://www.harborfreight.com/fuel-pump-and-vacuum-tester-93547.html
I got mine at harbor freight for about $19, and it works fine, sears sells the same gauge for a few dollars more and similar gauges are available at advance auto
READ THRU THE LINKS
http://www.sears.com/u-s-general-fuel-p ... 5887561009
http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 921x00003j
http://www.earlycuda.org/tech/vacuum2.htm
http://www.international-auto.com/fiat- ... gauges.cfm
you can,t guess you need to deal in verified facts.
currently your don,t really know what your dealing with,
its physical operational condition or if you have worn cam lobes,leaking valves or worn rings etc
. it won,t do you much good too consider swapping cams,
until you've verified the basic engines operational condition tuning and compression, timing etc. is OK.
let us know What you find,
before we go further
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-running-up-to-expectations.14757/#post-81014
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/verifying-your-real-advance-curve.4683/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-carb-with-just-vac-gauge.14932/#post-84207
https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore,f,EAFeatured+Weight,f,Sale+Rank,f&q=94190
related info
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...se-valve-train-or-rod-knock.13846/#post-70866
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...han-assume-you-know-answers.13217/#post-68926
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...the-source-of-exhaust-smoke.13030/#post-67772
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/drop-back-to-basics.12943/#post-67323
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-t-get-it-running-correctly.12495/#post-62966
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hink-logically-don-t-assume.12484/#post-62772
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...n-jumping-in-with-both-feet.14918/#post-84129
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/blue-oil-smoke.12198/#post-59193
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/vacuum-gauge-help.9453/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/carb-tuning-info-and-links.109/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...and-a-bit-of-experience-make.6778/#post-21751
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...em-will-eventually-cost-you.11810/#post-56635
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/the-trucks-just-not-running-well.13435/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...r-basic-performance-concepts.9731/#post-48391
Last edited: