I learned something about ignition knock today

GLAmes

GLAmes

Senior Member
I had my engine running long before it was ready to put on the road. Every now and then I'd start it and get it up to operating temperature while going through the gears of the automatic transmission. A couple years ago it started the dreaded knock when first started. It would go away with increased RPM. I tried all the standard fixes. Adjusted timing, adjusted the dwell, and put premium gas into the tank. It never fully went away. When the engine was cold I would increase RPM. At operating temp it would go away. A week or so ago while doing my second "long" drive from the house (about 15 miles out and 15 back) the engine died two blocks from the house. My wife brought my pickup and a tow strap and we took it home. I adjusted the points and it seemed to be OK. I wrote it off as a worm cam rider and made sure to lube it. Two blocks from the house it tried to die again. I nursed it home and ordered new points and a couple of condensers. Today, it started up, with a nasty knock and I checked the dwell and the timing. Both good but the engine ran like crap. Since it is the easiest I replaced the condenser and started it up. Nice and smooth and NO Spark knock. None. Nowhere have I read that a bad condenser will cause it so I thought I'd pass it on.
 
paul2748 said:
For a number of years, condensers have been known to be problems chinese parts again. .
Click to expand...

I've read that but didn't know exactly what happens when they fail. I thought the engine just wouldn't run never hard of any other symptoms.
 
This, is true.

Years ago a 1969 R10 Reno, bought a tune -up kit for it and when done, the motor operated worse!

Found out kits not the way to go, it was the condenser…there was a number on the distributor that required a different condenser!

Had to dumpster dive retrieved the old one until the new one came in.
 
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