Post
by Lanval » Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:57 pm
Depends on what we mean by "running" here ~ the engine runs, if the timing is set to a significant number BTDC. I can't tell what it is, because there is no scale on these engines ~ just the split case mark.
I didn't have time today, but tomorrow or Friday, I want to pull the dizzy and see if you're right about the the dizzy alignment. In the dizzy location that the engine runs, the dizzy is at the approximate location that it was set at prior to my attacking this problem. In other words, it looks to me like the timing was set wrong, and other things adjusted around it ~ or you are right, and the dizzy location is incorrect.
Alternatively, the TB is the issue, or there is a big ol' vacuum leak somewhere. I assumed the vaccum retard system works, because it worked before and I didn't change anything meaning. Yes, I swapped out the plenum. I reattached the various vacuum tubing where necessary. I could check a few more spots, but basically, it worked before and I didn't do anything to it. So a reasonable assumption in the face of this should be that it works. That said, I'll go look at the Bentley and see how to test the vacuum system/retard.
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as for the fuel pump, there's no trick there. The FP has 12v in, and 12v out to the chassis. Doesn't matter whatever else happens in the system. As long as 12v goes in and the pump runs, the ground is good. For ever and ever until it breaks. Once you've verified the pump is correctly running in that set up, the only thing that can cause a problem is something that prevents the 12v from arriving at the pump. Sure that could be the pump ground, but if the pump runs from an alternative 12v source the ground is good ~ end of story, no rechecking necessary.
Hell the ground was good with the older, cut up crapola wiring. It was always the ECU. I only replaced the harness because I was sick of the half-assed wiring jobs that had been done before.
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I should add though, that the pump itself could be bad. I'm tempted to replace just because it's old, but throwing (expensive) parts at problems is a stupid way to proceed, whatever the relative merits of building reliability into your system. I want to KNOW what the problem is. After that I'll be happy to replace older parts all day long, just so I have a new engine, one piece at a time.
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I'll try the TB. It acts pretty wonky when I try to play with the throttle, sometimes revving sometimes dying. If it still runs like crap, then it's on to the next item.
Best,
L.