My old dead Ford aint what she use to be revival help...?

camerahunter

So, I have been posting to the Vanagn forum, die hard VW Van people we are. I don't need my old 1971 F250 Ford Pickup (360 auto) and am trying to get it running well to sell. I have fired it up one a year for the last 5 years it has been sitting, always started with a jump and a dump of gas down the carb.

I googled around and the other forums out there are just no help at all. I am hoping the samba folks will pull through as they always have on the Vanagon forum.

I had it going yesterday and again this morning but now it will not fire up. What the heck? Anyone know the best way to check for spark? How about running old fuel through it? Will it kill the carb? I want to change the fuel filter as well. There is a screw on canister blow the fuel pump. Anyone know if the gas will just pour out when I take the cover off to change it?

I don't need the truck anymore. I have owned i for over 20 years, never let me down. I just do not need it anymore and want it out of the yard.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

6T5 square · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:34 am Post subject:

I would think it would be like starting up an old barn find- dump the 5 year old gas, change the filter and clean out the carb first. Change the plugs, tune it up and it'll probably run like a champ- the old fords are hard to kill.

best way to check for spark is to pull a plug wire off and hold it close to but not touching a ground. crank the motor and look for spark (just like a VW)

hold a can below the canister when you take the filter off- about 1/4 cup maximum will come out, but since you havent been running it alot, it'll probably be a lot less
_________________
John
65 square 1500S (weezer) sold but always on my mind
60 beetle (Ned)

Quoting John Muir -- Open the rear boot. Get out the stool and sit down. Contemplate the air-cooled beauty before you. - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive -- Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

camerahunter · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks John,

Yep, very much like the old barn find but a lot heavier and uglier. Inbetween rain squalls I have managed to change the canister filter, drain the tank, started to pour new gas in using a funnel and big wind gust came up and blew the gas around. I guess the new squall had to start at some point but right that instant?
After new fuel I will try starting it again. For now we are doing an inside job, putting new speakers in the back of the van. My 14 yr old son needs some projects to keep his mind off of puberty.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

thebucket · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject:

post pics of the truck. thats my favorite body style
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ITMC-El Presidente
OG 55 bullet 3 fold....
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150858&highlight=thebuckets++++fold

camerahunter · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject:

Well, I worked on it most of the day tying to resolve NO SPARK.
My Dad has a 73 that runs so I tried his coil, still no spark.
Changed the points, gapped properly, condenser, fuel is clean and pump working, just will not fire and I have no clue how to fix this.
Can it be the key/ignition?
Bad ground?
All fuses are good.
We did take the main batter ground off, cleaned it up, still zero spark.

Here's a pic of it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

keifernet · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:08 am Post subject:

camerahunter · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:09 am Post subject:

sledder_duner · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:28 pm Post subject:

The first thing i would check is to see if the rotor is turning when you spin the motor over and then see if the cam that opens the points is actually opening and closing the points.

camerahunter · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

Yes, it's turning, points opening and closing.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

keifernet · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject:

vdubyah73 · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject:

Point wires going into dissy body shorting out?

geeze I guess I shoulda kept reading Embarassed

_________________
burning down the house

73 bounty hunter, sold.
'77 transporter, junked had crotch rot.
Dubless, but have a CPR built stroker waiting for a new to me Beetle
'93 Fleetwood Bounder 34'

Endicott jb · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

You said you gapped the points but have yet to say anything about the plugs. Try the plugs. They might just be the problem.
_________________
Josh

OORAH!!
1965 vw beetle(Mayble)
1968 vw beetle(Caroline)
1974 VW Panel Bus
2003 Dodge 2500 5.9 Cummins(Katey)

.|_____|.
(0\_!_/0)
.||......||.

Don't drink and post
http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg353/endicott_jb/IMG_20110113_085237.jpg
When life throws you curveballs switch to boomerangs.

camerahunter · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject:

Well, some progress. I cleaned up he point contacts, re-gapped them and had my son crank it over without the cap on to watch for spark. It immediately tried to start so we put the cap on and it fired right up!

BUT

After running it for about 1/2 hour, revving it up once in a while, turned it off to go get something at my Dad's, came back and nada. Won't start again.
I haven't checked for spark yet.

Could it be old worn out spark plugs and wires? They are definitely old and bad but I am trying to keep the cost to a minimum and jut get it out of here.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

Endicott jb · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

I had that problem with my bug a few times. Spark plugs were so far gone that it wouldn't start up when it was cold. Changed the plugs and it ran fine. You could probably just clean up the plugs a bit and regap them and be good. But, for the price of plugs these days it's just easier getting new plugs.
_________________
Josh

OORAH!!
1965 vw beetle(Mayble)
1968 vw beetle(Caroline)
1974 VW Panel Bus
2003 Dodge 2500 5.9 Cummins(Katey)

.|_____|.
(0\_!_/0)
.||......||.

Don't drink and post
http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg353/endicott_jb/IMG_20110113_085237.jpg
When life throws you curveballs switch to boomerangs.

Jagdpanzer · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:30 am Post subject:

man that truck is sexy.
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camerahunter · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:01 am Post subject:

[quoteYou said you gapped the points but have yet to say anything about the plugs. Try the plugs. They might just be the problem[/quote]

Somehow I missed that.
I decided last night to go up to the auto parts store this morning and get new wires, plugs, rotor, and maybe a light switch. These are the only things left that I know I should replace but haven't because I am trying to save money.
In the end the truck will be running so well I will just start driving it around again...

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver

camerahunter · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

Well, I had a chance to work on this some more this morning. ZERO spark at the coil. However, I did test the coil + and - side with a meter, key on + meter terminal to ground, 12V coming through, same with - side attached + meter terminal - to ground, 12V reading but no spark using two different coils both which fired up the engine this week? What could be wrong? Just for good measure I tried the coil wire to ground while turning over, no spark, coil wire directly to a spark plug, no spark.

Thank you,

David
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1984 - Daily driver


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