Recent content by malloyjp

odometer is over 100K. It reads at 101K. I've had car for 25 years and put about 25K miles on it in that time. But it sat for many years. What's best way to tell if crankcase ventilation system is working ? I know the PCV valve is rattling when I shake it, but that's the extent of my PCV...

Hi, I have a 69 mustang(mach1) with original 351 W 2V engine. When I start the car, there's a nice plume of white smoke from the exhaust that goes away after it runs for a few seconds. Even after it warms up, if I hit the gas hard (while parked in my driveway), it will put out some white looking...

my car sat for a week, I live in PA and it's starting to get colder (50s today). Anyway, I fired it up and watched the tach. On cold start it initially read about 1400 rpms, and the rpms slowly started to drop to about 1100 and engine was running pretty rough (engine shaking a bit). Once I...

I have a 1969 autolite 2100 and I'm trying to dial in the fast idle setting. The book calls for 1600 rpms on fast idle. I know the adjustment screw rests on little steps that drop the idle down. But I can barely see in there to know what's going on or how to correctly adjust it. Is there a...

I recently put new points in my distributor and set the gap to what I thought was the correct gap, but the dwell meter is reading low. It's reading 24 , and the correct dwell is supposed to be 29 per the manual. The car is running good though. I'm confused because the points that I replaced were...

I want to say thanks to everyone on this thread. The car started up on the first try and I was able to set the timing. The engine is running much smoother and has more power. I still have to dial in the carburetor, but this was a big step. Setting the points was a real treat, but I think I got...

the shaft feels tight to me when I try to move it side to side. I ordered the better points and a new wire (coil to distributor). I went to reinstall the old wire and the wire casing cracked. The wire said Autolite, so assuming it's very old, possibly original. Once I get my parts I'll try again...

I noticed that once I re-wired the distributor that my points gap had changed. Is there some trick to getting this gap correct ? It keeps changing on me. Specifically, I think the gap is good, then I go to tighten the screw down and when I do that the gap changes on me. Considering this whole...

I'm happy to say that the distributor is now in place fully seated and rotor pointing to the same spot that I marked before I pulled it. I learned that it takes several attempts to get it to seat and even more attempts to get it to seat with the rotor in the right spot. You guys are right about...

I got the distributor to seat completely by hand. But the rotor is not pointing exactly where I marked it when I pulled it out. Appears off by one cylinder. so if it was pointing 4 oclock when it came out , it now pointing 5 oclock. I've not cranked the engine at all. Was hoping to drop in in...

I know I know, I'm overanalyzing it. But I really want to learn this stuff and do a good job. I'll get there, thanks for hanging in there with me. I can tell you guys are really experienced, I really appreciate all the help. Thanks !

ok a few scenarios to mull over here: I haven't cranked it at all manually or by starter since i pulled distributor out. Just tried to re-install it so my rotor is pointing where it was when it came out. As you know it didn't drop down all the way. Rotor was pointing to #4 when it came out. If I...

Before I engage the starter, should I try to center the oil pump drive shaft with a blob of grease or is it ok to just leave it leaning off center ? Not sure what best practice is here. Thanks !

I pulled the distributor. It came out very easily. I just pulled up and out it came , no wiggling required. I cleaned it up , put new points and condenser on it. Put some anti-seize on the surfaces that were stuck. Suprisingly the O ring looked fine. Anyhow, it didn't drop down quite as easily...

I think I will try to pull it out. I want to see what I've been wrestling with. Does it usually just easily come right out by hand , I noticed there is now play on it if I pull up but the gears are still engaged. I know marking where rotor is important for putting it back in right. I hope this...