Running on two

K

Kaptain Karl

Member
My AA ran great last Sat to take my neighbor to the prom. I started it to come back home and it didn't sound right. I had no power and couldn't make the hills. Sounded like it was out of time and I got it in the garage and it died and would not restart. Started the next day but ran rough and could not makeup up the drive. Started it to its and it sounds like it is only running on two cyl. I pulled three and four wires and it sounded the same. I am not getting g spark to cylinders 3&4. What would cause this? Plugs seem fine and replaced the distributor cap. Getting frustated and ready to sent it back.
Thanks karl
 
Have you tried switching the plugs around? Do a compression check, maybe
a blown head gasket.

Bob
 
try taking a long screwdriver from a head nut or other good ground and hold it near 3 or 4 terminal at cap with the wire moved out of the way. if it arcs to the screwdriver then you may have a plug problem. if there is no arc then we have to go in the opposite direction
 
Might be real close on the points and a little worn in the bushings. And this create the dreaded "eccentric wobble" which opens the points only on two of the four cylinders.

Yup. Reaching. But this can happen.

Joe K
 
In my experience, head gaskets usually blow between 3 and 4. Do a compression test. If you have to replace the head gasket, use a copper one and spray it with Copper Coat. Tourque it to 50#, run it for 30 minutes, then retorque to 55#. Also, you might want to have the head surfaced at a machine shop.
 
I agree with Tbird and also was going to suggest what Joe said. Check you distributor shaft side play and points gap, which should be .020". If these check out then try a different distributor body. They usually short out between 3 & 4.
 
Could be a bad distributor body but, my bet is a blown gasket. Remove the plugs and put your thumb over #3 plug hole and see if the cylinder has compression and listen for wheezing out of #4. You can do this from the driver side and just push the starter rod down to turn the motor. You can also start the motor and stab the accelerator and listen for popping through the carb. This is a sure sign the gasket is blown. Simple checks, non invasive and can be done quickly.
 
Joe K said:
Might be real close on the points and a little worn in the bushings. And this create the dreaded "eccentric wobble" which opens the points only on two of the four cylinders.

Yup. Reaching. But this can happen.

Joe K
Click to expand...
Absolutely correct. As a green kid one time I tuned an old Cornbinder for a guy and set the points per the specs. Seemed to run fine in the shop, took it out for a test drive and it did ok up to about 15 mph and fell on its face. Brought it back to the shop checked point gap and found that when points were closed moving the cam toward the rubbing block caused a wide point gap. Reset the points to 0 gap and it started and ran quite well. I decided to rebuild the distributor any way.

Chet
 
Figured out the problem. Inside the distributor, the screw that holds down the other end of the points came loose and made the lever side short out on the cam. tightened screws and it runs fine
thanks:)
 
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