More Flathead Problems... Help

i had a problem with my car (49 merc flathead/C4) i took it to get some air in the tires and on my way back home the car started to spudder and stall. at the time the trans was busted and it needed a new fuel pump.i thought it was that, i just got the trans rebuilt and on my way home from the shop it spuddered again and stalled. the engine starts fine and idles fine but when i drive around 25-30 it just wants to quit. any ideas?

 

Sounds like a fuel pressure/supply problem. Check for pressure and flow at the carb inlet.

 

My buddy had the same issue and it ended up being a bad condensor.

 

i think it might have to rebuild or replace it. it overheated pretty bad before the last day i drove it. what can happens when a motor overheats? sorry i'm not the smartest person

 

I have a 50 merc and had the same sort of issue it turned out to be a bad coil. When you rev the engine up does it start to miss? If so I'd say it is definitely the coil. Simple cheap fix. Flatheads can get pretty hot without really hurting them. Hope that is all that it is.

 

Check your fuel filter for possible clog. If it starts fine and idles fine, but starts to bog down at the speeds youdescribe, that sounds more like a fuel problem than electrical. A clogged fuel filter will give the same symtoms you just described.


HellRaiser

 

Check fuel line also, blow air through it, if there is debris in there it will starve out on acceleration.

 

i just installed a new fuel pump and all filters, still has a problem. i think it might be the coil, i didn't think of that, thanks i'm going to get another one hopefully that is the problem. it has the original fuel lines from what it looks like so i'll have to change that too. thanks guys for the help!

 

I had the same issue. In my case, one of the wires to the coil (connected by a little nut on a tiny stud) was loose and would vibrate around which caused the sputtering and sometimes stalling out. A friend noticed it and my problem was solved.

 

i had the same problem and it turned out being the carberator after i rebuilt it it ran fine

 

If you have a set of Champion plugs in it change them to Autolite 216's. Problem may be gone then. Been a lot of problems with Champion plugs.

 

Flatheads have a vapour lock problem, caused by the pump being high up on a hot engine. Next time it quits, pour some cold water on the pump and see if it starts better.

 

start with changing your coil and condenser. I had both die at the same time on my flathead due to leaving the ignition on when the motor wasn't. took me a little while to figure that out.

btw, when getting a condenser I just went to napa and told them to give me a condensor for an early 60's corvette. get the good one. I wanna say the brand name is echlin or something like that. been alot of bad condensors around lately.

 

great advise guys thanks, i'll go to napa today and install after work and let you know what happens tomorrow. i should also point out that i installed an electric fuel pump

 

car runs great now, i took off the fuel regulator and changed the points and did my best to time it, now it drives great. thanks again everyone