can timing problems cause all this?

Its a bone stock 223 ford six cylinder. rebuilt the carb and redid most everything except the timing. but the truck still runs like crap.
-carb runs to rich
-motor sounds like its shaking
-radiator spews every time we stop
-backfires through the carb
-and just doesnt run well when you give it gas

every time i adjust the carb it changes a little but its never any better. still sounds like its running straight gas. any other ideas? im really out of them.
thanks

 

Timing, and a vacuum leak, and or a float out of adjustment. Could be all of these?

 

Crossed wire

 

Have you ever checked the compression of the engine? Like 31vickey said too, check the firing order.

 

excessively retarded timing could cause all of these symptoms, check your timing with a timing light and advance till it pings a little under load. When you find it is pinging retard it a degree or two until it stops and this should be around your optimum timing. Also the advance weights in your dizzy may be cactus so a dizzy rebuild and recure could be warranted.

if your unsure of how to check your timing, mixtures or check your advance curve take it to your local dyno tuner that is up to speed with carbys and older gear.

 

we got the float spot on (took me a day but it got it) but the vacuum leak is a possibility since one vacuum hose is pretty rusty. firing order is right to, just checked right now. good according to the exaust numbers and the distributer, so i guess its vacuum related

 

doesnt sound vacuum related as vac leak would cause the car to be excessivly lean with a flat spot, check your dizzy and ignition timing. Sounds very much like an ignition problem. A retarded spark or poor ignition will cause all the symptoms you are talking about.

cheers dell

 

If its backfiring thru the carb - that means its sparkling with the intake valve open. Or lean but you said rich.

That's a lot of timing to be off. And it would be all of them. One crossed does that.
And its probably running on 4 cylinders.

Yea yea yea you checked all this shit but you missed something stupid. Your gonna have to down to the bottom basics and start back up then.

Did you ever have it running good ?

 

Hes right go back to basics, pull all your leads off, pull no 1 plug out get it to top dead centre. Makes sure your dizzy rotor is pointing to no1 leads on your cap. Check all your vac lines and carb base gasket. Test your coil and leads with a multimeter to make sure they are within spec. You think its running rich but is that because it is not firing a cylinder and you can smell unburnt fuel. If your unsure call someone or to help or take it to someone that knows these motors as you will juts waste time or $$ otherwise.

cheers dell

 

Might as well start with compression test.
Then verify your timing marks with a piston stop test.
Then put the ignition back to specs.

Missing shit happens

 

put a dwell meter on it and see if the dwell is correct and steady. Cant get an honest timing setting if its not correct. If the dwell and timing are correct check if top dead center is the as on the damper.

Ron

 

Also with a timing light be sure that the timing is advancing when the engine is reved. About 30-34 degrees total advance. Set timing with vacuum advance line unplugged and caped at carb engine warm.

Ron

 

this is where i would start, hook up a vacuum gage, hook up your dwell meter, hook up your timing light, hook up a tach. set points, then note vacuum reading looking for a steady needle and if the reading is low [below 18 your timing is late] set timing using both the light and getting the highest vacuum reading. then adjust carb. check total advance, too high it will run like crap and sound like a miss.

 

Okay so went back and redid the points condensor and dizzy and redid the wires. Compression is good good. Vacuum checked and it came out pretty solid. The thing that is looking stronger is the wires to the plugs, they are sort of old. So maybe not a crossed wire but one that's just bad? Thanks everyone for the help, just hoping to get the truck running strong enough to drive on the streets

 

.Watch it run in the dark.
You'll see them arcing if they are.

When you said " redid almost everything" , we can only assume that a basic tune up was done.
apparently not?! ?
Plugs,wires, cap rotor points condenser check your coil it'd be due too most likely

 

plugs, cap, coil, points, condensor, carb rebuild, oil, pumps all around, radiator hoses all around. as for the truck ever running good, not really, this is only the second time weve ever had it running enough to drive (ish)

 

I have a can timing problem when I eat too much chilli and beer. Sorry couldn't resist!!!