Guest gtmattz Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 this isnt Z related, but it IS an SBC issue.... fired up my 'new' ('68 GMC w/a 305 sbc) truck this morning to drive it in to work as my daily driver is out of commission for the time being.. was a little hard to get to idle, but as this was my first expirence starting it up early in the morning in the cold (was still frost on everything, near 30 degrees F) i didnt think much of it.. well i got her to idle, let her hget warmed up and headed out.. soon as i get on the road she starts backfiring thru the carb and missing occasionally, wont even get to 50mph.. So i start checking stuff out and lo, theres a huge crescent shaped pice of the distributor missing, looks like it was whacked when the engine was being stabbed.. SO Im thinking that the distributor was all full of moisture causing this condition?? When I was making sure the truck was running properly this weekend it was fine, no hesitation or missing. but then, when i was working with her on the weekend it was later, afternoonish. But anyway, this behavior is indicitave of moisture in the distributor, correct? omg... please excuse the spelling.. at work here so hurrying to post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Definitely a place to start. Change that cap, it could have cracks running up to where you connect the plug wires and is arching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gtmattz Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 the cap is new.. its the actual distributor, the surface that the cap sits on has a nice crescent shaped piece knocked right out... pretty much the whole back side of the rim that goes around the top of the actual metal piece... pretty cool eh? Im sitting here thinking of all the things that were wrong with this beast when i got her and it makes me sad... When you looked into the engine compartment everything LOOKED ok, and it was running ok when i first got the truck.. took it home and parked it, mostly was getting it for the engine... found that it wasnt charging, even tho it had a brand new alternator (found that the guy who installed the engine wired the new alternator into the voltage regulator in the engine compartment, eliminated that and had charge), pulled off the air cleaner and found that the choke mechanisim was just plan not there.. then found that the primary shaft on the Q-jet was a sive, HUGE vacuum leak, so I got a new edelprock performer, since it already had the performer intake manifold (gotta make stuff match).. when i pulled off the old carb there was still old nasty gasket material on the manifold which was keeping the carb from properly seating (another vacuum leak).. runs alot better with the new carb, but now i run into this! gotta love it.. but then i didnt pay too much for the truck, and the block/heads supposedly has less than 10k miles on it, so im not too worried, just dont like throwing mony at something that was supposed to be 'ready to go'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Sorry, didn't read that right. I would try to duct tape the hole, seal it well, and see if that helps at the next morning run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gtmattz Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 DUCT TAPE!!! why didnt i think of that????? GENIUS!!! can at least get me to next paycheck, as my wife is already in the mood to kill me for what $$ i have thrown at the truck so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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