318 trouble

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Torrance00

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Hi guys
So I"m back, same car, same problem.
always start at the begining.
1974 Dodge Dart swinger, 318, auto, air..(never used)
up untill about Jan or last year the car ran nice.
then the vacumn pot on the dist went out.
So I replaced the Dist (cardone, rebuilt) well since that day
the car has never run right.
It would ping when just easing off the line.. and would back fire
if I tried to punch it. If I excellirate fast, she will pop back through
the Carb (twide) then I let off the gas..
I have 21" mercruy at idle, the vacuum port on the carb for
the Dist is at 11" merc. that is also on the Dist side of the
valve on side of air cleaner housing..
40K coil, plugs gaped at 34K, all wire tight...
at idle 750rpm TDC... with vacuum line attached its around 13 BTDC
Hope someone can help..
Best
Dave
 
Rebuilts can be "lots of trouble." First thing is make certain the timing marks are correct, use a piston stop

Time it by RPM and vacuum and see "what it likes."

Make sure the mechanical advance is working......remove the cap and "spring" the rotor clockwise, then release. It should snap back smartly with no "gumminess"

ANY chance you have the firing order wrong, and OPEN PLUG WIRE or even a broken plug?
 
As mentioned above,, wrong firing order, crossed plug wires,, easily mixed-up when you changed them to the new cap..

attachment.php


Set timing with vac advance hose disconnected and vac plugged.
 
I just bought one of there's and the screws holding the pickup down was striped out and closed up while driving ,left me sitting on the side of the road not fun anymore.
 
Torrance00 said:
Hi guys
So I"m back, same car, same problem.
always start at the begining.
1974 Dodge Dart swinger, 318, auto, air..(never used)
up untill about Jan or last year the car ran nice.
then the vacumn pot on the dist went out.
So I replaced the Dist (cardone, rebuilt) well since that day
the car has never run right.
It would ping when just easing off the line.. and would back fire
if I tried to punch it. If I excellirate fast, she will pop back through
the Carb (twide) then I let off the gas..
I have 21" mercruy at idle, the vacuum port on the carb for
the Dist is at 11" merc. that is also on the Dist side of the
valve on side of air cleaner housing..
40K coil, plugs gaped at 34K, all wire tight...
at idle 750rpm TDC... with vacuum line attached its around 13 BTDC
Hope someone can help..
Best
Dave[/QU
Click to expand...
 
thanks guys,
Everything that you suggested I have done, not once but
many times..
The timing is on TDC, rotor pointed at No. plug wire.
I set timing both by hand then I plug vacuum, and test with
light. I"ve triple checked the wire order, but I'll look at that
again.
the mechanical advace does not come into play that soon to
be an issue when only going 15 - 20 mph, but I will check
anyway..
Does anyone think that the electronic controller could have anything
to do with this problem?
Best
and thanks again for your input...
Ps: have any of you heard of setting the air\fuel mixture before
setting the RPM?
 
First on P.S.: set the idle speed,then adjust the air/fuel mixture. Air/fuel mixture effects rpm,use a vacuum gauge.Highest vacuum, usually equals highest idle speed.Most effective in drive(stock cam). You would turn idle speed ,to match. Do you have the old distributor still? Hopefully, you didn't turn it in as the core exchange. You could just install a vacuum diaphragm.
 
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