1935 sudden tapping

TDS

TDS

Member
Hi
I got a 1935 221 cui Ford V8 flathead.
The engine and ignition is stock. Exhaust is not.
I have recently replaced my carb. The old one was a Solex whit a choke issue.
They used the Solex paai 30 on Ford V8's in Denmark.
I have rebuild and mounted a Ford 94 carb.
The Ford carb has given me some issues as the vacuum suddenly was way off.
I therefore gave the dist an inspection and cleaned it.
Some one had mounted a 1937 dist, before my time, but i put it back on.
Today I got hand on a 1935 dist that I awaiting parts for. I want to mount that instead.
When cleaning the 1937 dist I was very careful marking the point timing and install the dist it the same way.
I also replaced 2 bad sparkplugs.
I had to tighten the vacuum plunger to max to get rid of pinging.
After this it actually ran great until this afternoon.
Suddenly after 15 miles I got a weird tapping noise. I was like a rhythm like at tap followed with tapping getting lower and lower. It repeated for the next 4 miles. Idle was okay and I got the car home.
About 2 miles before home the tapping cleared away.
Now I hear some tapping/knocking from the engine front when I deescalate but Im actually not sure if its related.

I use MMO in the gas.

I haven’t messed around with anything but the carb and the dist.
I need some guidance to locate what could be the issue.

Thanks
 
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My '36 was making similar strange noises.It turned out to be the vacuum brake piston.Pull the piston and lube it. This may not be the problem but it'll only take a few minutes so it's worth a try.
 
Re: 1935 strange tapping noise from engine

Hi

Will check the plunger.
The tapping was pretty lound.

No washers and nuts where lost into the intake manifold:).

The raven :D - it actually sounded like a raven tapping on a window.

Wondering if the coolant pumps can cause the front engine tapping/knocking?
 
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Hi there, you should not have to tighten the vacuum brake plunger to maximum to stop it pinging. Tightening it right down hard may wear out the leather brake washer on the piston very quickly and if that is the case then that might be your noise. Don't drive again until you check the leather brake washer. I would set both sets of dist contacts at .015" and set the timing plate scale in the middle (0 deg) and then take the car for a run. The vacuum brake adjuster bolt should show about three threads out from the lock nut as a starting point. If your dist contacts are not gapped correctly then timing will be out anyway so this has to be correct for a starter. Only adjust the vacuum brake after all other items are correct. Original carb on USA 35 Ford is the Stromberg 48 or you could fit a Stromberg 97 which were standard fitting on 1936 Fords. I regard these as more bulletproof than the 94. The 94 carb came in 1938. Regards, Kevin.
 
Hi Kevin
Thanks for your input.

This is my first flathead so I have to get used to the very different distributor style and how to get the timing right.
I dont have a timing fixture.

I will try to set the points to 0.015" and the timing plate to centermark.
Others describe that it should be set 2 marks above center mark for a 4 degree advance?
I also read the setting should depend on the gas used?

I pulled the starter today and found that the ring on the gear on the starterdrive was broken of.
I have had some issues with the starter not engaging.
Now I know why...
Wonder if that could be the source of the strange tapping rythms - it started when I drove uphill.
 
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Hi TDS, Yes sounds like that detached starter drive ring/weight might be causing your noise by allowing the starter pinion gear to tinkle on the ring gear or just tinkle on its own. The centre mark on the distributer timing scale is a starting point and you could move it up to advance one or two marks if need be. Usually when using a bench timing fixture this timing mark is set as the last operation in the set up process before refitting the distributer to the car. You need to do a test drive or two up a hill under some load to check performance and listen for any pinging. This pinging is adjusted out using the vacuum brake and not the timing scale as a rule. Fuel quality also has varying effects on these settings. Keep us informed of your progress. Regards, Kevin.
 
I had a similar tapping that would come and go in my '59 Ford 292. I could be idling with it tapping and when I turned the engine off and restarted the noise would be gone until I drove it a bit. The problem on it was the started drive drifting into the flywheel as it traveled down the road. It has the same basic drive as the early drives.
 
My ringear got cockeyed on my flywheel and would hit the block, was louder with the clutch pushed in, pushed the gear back in place and had it tack welded in several spots.
 
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