My dad passed away in Feb. and left me his 39 Ford Tudor Deluxe. I drove it during the month of April back in New Hampshire where my parents lived. The car hadn't been run for almost 8 months, but fired right up and went on a shake down run no problems. I drove it about 300 miles back there, then had it shipped back to my home in Windsor, California (Northern Cal) and received it here on Thursday afternoon this week. When I started it after the delivery, it was very hard to start, which it hadn't been before. It cranked and cranked, had to pump the gas quite abit, choke was out, etc. Finally got it started and ran it around the neighborhood a few blocks, thinking I had flooded it some and needed to drive a few bugs out. It ran pretty badily, stumbling and falling all over its self, popping and light backfires. It never did this at any other time. I got it back to the house, opened the hood and could visually see nothing changed or altered, thinking maybe a plug wire had come loose or something simple like that. Nothing. I did notice a little gas seepage around the carb base that was not there before. So, I guess my question is, would a cross country change in weather and conditions be enough to make it run this horrible? Would transportation through high altitudes (cross country transport) have affected anything? I'm probably reaching on these thoughts, but there is nothing at all different in the mechanics of the car from the day it was picked up. I had driven it on a 30 mile cruise just 18 hours before it was picked up and it ran great. I'm new with the flatheads, this being my first, so any information someone could throw at me I would appreciate. The motor is the stock 39 flathead, rebuilt about 10k miles ago with Canadian aluminum heads on it to bump the compression a little and a set of Red's headers with dual Smithys, but no other mods to it.
The trip may have broke loose stuff in the gas tank?.I'd pull the top of the carb off & see if there is any junk in the float bowl.Has an inline fuel filter?.Good luck.One quick way to do first is to remove the idle screws & use some air pressure in each hole. Remember the number of turns each one has before removing.
That is also my first thought. Who knows what kind of weather it came through. Sounds llike an ignition problem. Maybe the switch was left on and burned the points. Neal
Sounds like a carb issue to me. You are in Cali so at sea level, don't know where the car was in New Hampshire but carb could be set for higher altitude. Could be stuck throttle valve, plugged jet, nothing serious I wouldn't think.
Does not sound to serious, but start with the carb. Check the glass on the fuel pump and see if there is dirt in it. If it is you may have some in the jets in your carb. It usually comes lose if you rev up your engine and hold your hand over the carb, take your hand off before the engine stopps. If there is no dirt, start checking your ignition components. Good luck.
I would have to say it is a stuck float or needle. If it has the old brass float I would take it out and shake it to see if you can hear fuel in it. The new fuels today, particulary the ones with Ethanol are hell on the old brass float seams. I have gone through quite a few. What kind of carb does it have? Multiple carb setup?
Single carb, original manifold. My dad rebuilt the carb, but I can't ask him exactly what he did. Thanks for all the helpful information. I'll let you know what I find out. Taylor
Taylor, Try BillB's Flathead forum. Lots of knowledgeable guys there that are into flatheads. Walked me through my '35 questions. All the advice you're getting here is good. RB
The rubbing block on the points probably wore down and the point gap closed up which changes the timing. That makes it sound just like carb problems.
One more easy thing to check. I'll betcha that your gas tank was not filled up for that transporter trip home. Half tank, maybe? You might have picked up a good amount of condensation with all the temperature changes during the trip. Check for water in your gas. A can of dry gas and a top-off should absorb any water in there.
check the cork gasket on the fuel pump bowl. it will run like crap if its sucking air, and make it hard to start.
Was in a hurry and didn't explain my WAG. The car was transported across country. It is not unusual ... in fact, you can count on it ... that it will be started and moved during the transit. Even the best haulers juggle cars on the trailer (unless it was a one car trailer deal) while others may change trailers, carriers, etc. Some of these guys are familiar with starting all the different cars, others ... Maybe your car wasn't started enroute. But, it's a good guess that if it was, somebody fouled the plugs.
If you are not familiar with the flathead. Save yourself time and probably money and take it to a reputable hot rod shop.
Start: Pull plugs, line'emup in order for scrutiny. Eyeball valves through holes...while someone turns over engine with the handcrank. See if all move...stuck valves common on flatheads left sitting. Usually easy...push the stuck ones closed with lots of oil shot into stems, turn over, repeat til free. Look over plugs for any that differ...quick clue to problem areas.
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