I DID IT! (but still have an issue)

[Supermike]

First, let me say ....

Tonight I finally took the time, popped open the hood and a beer, and dug in! Here's what I accomplished:

* replaced points with Pertronix Ignitor II
* replaced coil with Flamethrower II 45,000v coil
* ran new wire from coil to ignition.
* gapped and installed new platinum plugs
* replaced spark plug wires with Pertronix Flamethrower "stock look" wires
* replaced distributer cap and rotor

Let me just say... WOW!! The truck runs and sounds 1000x better! I havent' been able to take it for a test drive yet (I didn't finish 'til 12am and its pouring), but it sure ran great in the garage! There was a brief moment I thought it might not start and got really worried, but when it did it was well worth it! No spitting, no stumbling, no backfiring or popping... it sounds like a new truck! I was actually pleased to see that my 3-year-old plugs were not fouled AT ALL and actually looked really good! Which makes me wonder how old the ones were that were in it when I bought the truck, but I digress...

As a follow-up on the Ignitor II installation, I ended up running a new wire from the ignition to the coil. But because I could not swap the wires ON the ignition, I made just one cut to the red/green wire coming off the ignition (same as pink on '67) to give it a full 12v. This way, if I ever want/need to switch back to points, I only need to splice the original wire back together.

Now for the issue...
It still seems hard to start when it's cold. And by that, I mean both the engine and the ambient temperature. If it's 75° out, it's not so bad. OR, if the truck is already warmed up, it starts fine.But let it drop below 60°, and it's crankety-crankety-crankety (wait) crankety-crankety-crankety (wait) crankety-crankety-crankety ... then it starts!

The battery is good, and is pretty strong (lots of cca's). I also keep it on a Battery Tender if I'm not going to drive it for a few days. The starter sure doesn't seem to have a problem cranking, and in fact after changing out everything above it sounded like it had more juice. Does the alternator have any play in starting (I'm thinking "no")? I can't think of what else I might need to replace... The solenoid is pretty old and cruddy... would that come into play? And if so, why only when it's cold? If the truck warms up, it's fine. What about the vacuum advance? I just replaced the fuel filter last summer.

My fear is that it's carb-related somehow, but I'm not quite ready to go THAT far in terms of rebuilding it myself. But even then, what would it be?

All that said, what I did tonight really amounted to the most under-the-hood work I've ever done myself (short of replacing the battery, air cleaner, etc). It was so nice to be able to do this myself and have a POSITIVE outcome. I could not have done it without this site and those of you who have helped me to understand various things, so THANK YOU!!

[fmartin_gila1]

Sounds like you have more of a Carb issue than ignition now. Is your Choke setup properly?

Fred

[Supermike]

The choke is manual, but I'm not sure how to tell if it's set up properly or not...

[Supermike]

Actually, since this only happens when it's cold outside, I'm starting to wonder if this might be a symptom of my big 'ol shiny air cleaner. It might be when the air is cold or humidity is high it just can't start.

You know what... who wants to work on an invention with me? An air cleaner lid that has a hinged latch-top on it so you can just pop the latch to spray in some starting fluid without having to take the top all the way off?

Makes me wonder if there's something I can do on those days to make it better? Maybe put a pillow case over the cleaner?

[fomocoguy]

Your air cleaner shouldn't make it harder to start. If anything it will just make it take longer to warm up. You can check the choke easily yourself. Just pull it all the way out and look at the carb. If the choke plate is fully closed you're in good shape.

What's your starting procedure? You may need to pump it two or three times before hitting the starter.

You know it's funny you should mention this, because I just installed the pertronix and flamethrower setup and my truck actually got harder to start. What did you set your gap to?

[Supermike]

Well, I just tried again tonight and it was better. This time I pulled the choke all the way out, and pumped the pedal fully like twice. I guess maybe I need to change my startup procedures with the new stuff.

I set my gap on the Ignitor to .030, using the piece of plastic they included. I set my gap on my plugs to .45

[seattle67]

That's cool Mike, good job

Ya, I have to do 3 to 4 good pumps when the engine is cold and it fires right up. If I don't, it don't start.

[Supermike]

Thanks guys... I guess I really hadn't thought much about the "routine" changing once I changed out everything else... so when it was hard to start last night, I thought "dang... that didn't change". But I guess with pretty much a new ignition (excepting the actual switch and the solenoid), the old "3/4 pull, one pump" deal has changed.

[FreakysFords]

No real help to add (other than to suggest driving it a few days and then see about dialing the carb in if needed), but had to say congrats!

[montana_hiboy]

You don't say what carb you have but maybe you're boiling/evaporating your fuel after shut down, which would require excessive cranking to prime the carb on start up, edelbrocks are infamous for this, just a thought.

[Supermike]

No real help to add (other than to suggest driving it a few days and then see about dialing the carb in if needed), but had to say congrats!

Thanks!

I have an Autolite 2100... it's gotten a lot easier to start by pulling the choke all the way out and pumping the gas twice.... so I think I went from bad ignition stuff to needing to change my start-up sequence.

It drives like a new truck... I can't believe the difference this has made!!

[pickly]

I just swapped out my points for an Ignitor too and have been having a problem starting after it's been sitting awhile. I have a 390 V8 that i've had the plugs gapped at .35. Since i installed the Iginitor do you think that i could increase that and it would help with the starting business? I also have an Autolite that's been rebuilt and have gone through all of the usual tinkering including disconnecting the automatic choke.

I have a manual choke as well and I have to pull the cable back all the way to close the choke plate and then push it forward a little once it gets warmed up.

[Supermike]

Pickly,

Here's what I found with regard to the Pertronix and plug gap:

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =3&t=40569

If you installed the original Ignitor, then I'd stick with the .035 stock gap. However, if you installed the PII or PIII, I think you are safe to open the gap more. I personally set mine at .045, though I'm wondering if it would have been better to gap them at .040.