1940 v8 timing

[fordfixer]

Can the timing on the engine be tweaked, with the distributor on the car. It runs pretty good but seems to lack power. Can only get 30 mph in second gear and doesn’t like third gear at all.

 

[marko39]

If you have the stock distributor the timing is set by moving the slide in the side. It would be best to send it to someone who has a distributor tester so it can be set correctly.

 

[fordfixer]

That has already been done. He is a well know guys who has the machine to set them up.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

That has already been done. He is a well know guys who has the machine to set them up.

If your distributor has been properly set up on a distributor tester machine, I'd say you have another issue.

 

[47topless]

A vacuum leak would give you those symptoms.

 

[petehoovie]

You're only running on 4 cylinders. One barrel of your two barrel carburetor is clogged...

 

[Seth Swoboda]

You're only running on 4 cylinders. One barrel of your two barrel carburetor is clogged...

This actually happened to me once. I recently saw an ad for a V8 Ford and the ad said it had a single barrel carburetor.

 

[GB SISSON]

Have you done a compression test? Has the carb been rebuilt? Spark at all 8 cyls?

 

[Seth Swoboda]

A compression check would be in order. I just replaced an engine, 21 stud, that had 60 psi per cylinder. It ran well but lacked a lot of power through the RPM range/gears.