Not out of the woods yet - some progress

[racertb]

All:

As you may know from my previous posts, I've been fighting a timing/running issue for year now.  Most recently I've made some slight adjustments to the distributor drive and distributor by removing what appeared to be excess slack/play.  I did put a new gear on the distributor as well.  Although that may have helped some, I'm certainly not out of the woods yet.

Yesterday I got the car running again (I took a break from it a while and also had to get a new battery) and kept in running for a good 20+ minutes before I turned it off.  A minor victory.  Before this, I could only get her started and keep her running for a minute or two before she'd slow down and die on me...all this while sitting in the garage.  So, not sure if I fixed anything, other than take up the slack in the drives as I mentioned and a new gear.

I am posting three videos below and would like to get your feedback if you have 10 minutes to spare.  The first is approximately 8 minutes and shows the car running and it's narrarted by yours truly.  The second is of the tailpipe so you can hear how bad the miss is.  The third is of the distributor installed on the car (car not running) and the play/wobble shown.

I know I've got an exhaust/intake leak which needs to be fixed (for the second time) that you can see in the video.  Not sure if the carb also needs to be rebuilt to help matters, but I have a new float and kit to do so if needed, which I may need to anyway.

Please let me know what you think...thanks.

http://vid947.photobucket.com/albums/ad320/racertb/Car%20Stuff/VIDEO0035_zpsxbzuhsqf.mp4

http://vid947.photobucket.com/albums/ad320/racertb/Car%20Stuff/VIDEO0036_zps0qf6zsrh.mp4

http://vid947.photobucket.com/albums/ad320/racertb/Car%20Stuff/VIDEO0037_zpssktvqdvk.mp4

[Doug]

Can't see in the video but the way you were shaking the distributor it looks like your hold down screw is missing 

[racertb]

Thanks Doug.  The screw with the spring that attaches the timing lever to the housing is there and fairly tight, if that's what you're referring to.  Still seems like too much wobble to me.  I can check it again.

Any thoughts on the other video clips?

[ski]

It kind of sounds like it's running on 3 cylinders.  Does the plug in the cyl. that is squirting oil out of a hole look like it's been firing?  I'd do a compression check on the engine if you haven't already.  You may have gotten the distributor situation tightened up enough to run and are now seeing a separate problem. The play in your distributor looks concerning.  I just went out and check mine and there's virtually no play.

ski

[Doug]

The spark plug washer should seal the hole.

[Doug]

I have seen engines running very rich and the extra fuel would weep up pass the spark plug and because of oil and other contaminants it is black and appears to be oil. My car at idle is rich, and the exhaust is very sooty. That's been discussed on here before.

[racertb]

Ski - the engine overall has great compression, but I have not checked each cylinder individually at this point

Doug - what you a said makes sense, not sure why I thought it could be oil

[ski]

racertb, I would make an individual cylinder compression check my next step just so you know what you have.  If you get a low cylinder check it again after shooting a bit of oil down the hole.

ski

[Doug]

A 30 distributor is a little different than a 28-29, But the advance works the same. Just looking at mine, there is no up down slop in it. And there is noticeable drag when trying to turn it. I notice you have a sprung on yours, there should be no need for a spring. Set it where you want it and it should stay. Just wandering is all that looseness allowing it to jump a tooth and get out of time

[Old Man]

racertb where do you live?

[racertb]

Old Man - I am in Orange Park, Florida just outside of Jacksonville.

[Old Man]

I was a member of the Plymouth Owners Club for many years and somewhere around here I have a couple of lists of all the members and their vehivle year of ownership. I'll try to find them amd maybe there is a owner or 2 in your area or not too many hours away that wouldn't mind you looking over their engine for clues to your problem. 

[racertb]

I appreciate the help.  I'm a member as well and might be able to inquire about a list if yours isn't readily available.

On another note, I bought a compression tester and did a dry test last night just to check each cylinder.  #1 showed 61, #2 showed 58 and #3 showed 60.  #4 showed nothing at all like there was a leak or problem with the gauge.  Obviously, I panicked at first but tried the other cylinders again and same thing with them, nothing.  I'm going to see if a schrader valve on the gauge is leaking or try another gauge.  I am hoping to get a good reading on #4 to be consistent with the others.

[imoore]

That engine is running with a constant miss. don't believe its a vacuum leak caused miss. to me its a definite ign miss. I would be checking spark at each plug then checking firing order. A 4 cyl with start and run with 2cyl plug leads wrong. believe me i have done that a few times.
the play in the distributor is nothing to worry about. I'm pretty sure mine does the same thing.

[racertb]

Quick update:

Hi Ian - the firing order is correct, 1-3-4-2, and the leads are in the correct order.  The plugs are fairly new, as are the plug wires, which are solid core copper.  Unless there is an issue with one of the wires or plugs, I would suspect the distributor.  The cap, points and condenser are also new.  Unless one of these new components is the issue, maybe the distributor needs attention.

On the compression test, bought a new Craftsman kit last night and just did another dry test:

#1 = 57
#2 = 62
#3 = 59
#4 = 57

Each cylinder held these numbers steady for a good 30+ seconds before I disconnected the gauge.  This is good news to me.