Flathead Help!

Here's the problem....I've been running my 37 Ford PU (w/53 Merc Flathead) daily for the past two years. I've had great luck with it besides the usual...points, a starter, a generator, you guys know how it is. Anyways I was out of town for a few days and left the truck uncovered and it rained the entire time I was away! I came back and let the truck dry out before trying to run it. I dried out the cap and she started right up. Got about 2 miles down the road and it started running like crap. It wanted to stall out at low rpms (but it runs ok at high rpms) and it was backfiring (not extreme, just popping at lower rpms) So anyways I brought it back home and the next morning I noticed it was leaking antifreeze. The antifreeze is coming out from the front of the water pump.....I see no connection between the engine running bad and the water pump though....coincidence I guess??? I ordered new pumps but it doesnt solve my poor performance. I changed points and condensor and the plugs are only 2 months old. The only thing that helps is when I cup my hand over the carb w/out the filter on it seems to smooth out, and when I take my hand off it starts running lousy again.....anyone have any suggestions???

 

water in carb,or in fuel system. as far as backfiring it sounds electrical, cracked coil maybe?

 

I drained the fuel and I had a spare cap so I switched that out but still running rough. Why would it run fine with my hand cupping the carb, but bad when I take my hand off? Air/Fuel mixture? I cant figure out why it just started running like crap!

 

Pull the carb and blow it out. You are making it richer by cupping your hand over it. most likely one of those shit happens deals, piece of dirt got loose and floated where it shouldn't be.

 

Whenever I got a distributor wet (manymanytimes) I almost never get it dry the first try.
Water under the plate warms up with the motor and steams up the cap. Blow it all out real good and leave the cap off for a few hours.

 

sounds like a wet distributor, take the cap off and spray some carb cleaner in the cap and then blow it out with the air hose.
later
RC

 

I think I found the problem.....took the carb off and gave it a good blowin' out and it started up and runs smooth! Thanks JohnEvans......I should have started there ....being that that wouldnt have cost anything, but I guess a tune up never hurts! Now I just have to wait for my new waterpumps to arrive and I'll be all set! Thanks for the suggestions guys....-Bud