moody flathead

I have an 8ba flathead that will start one day and run good and not even thing about starting the next.

Any idea what is going on with this thing?

 

When it doesn't start, does it spin over at all?

 

Can you give us more info?
Is the flathead the stock motor for that car?
Any symtoms or characteristics to your no start condition?


I have a stock 50 Ford and there are times when I have a hard time getting it to start. My problem is the starter button or starter button circuit.

 

Thanks for the replys.

This is an 8ba in my 50
I have new points,coil (with internal resistor),spark plug wires,condensor,battery,rotor cap & button.

It is firing good when I take a plug wire off an hold it near a ground.The plugs are getting gas (oh I forgot,new carb).I was messing around with the timing one day and had it running good,once it warmed up it would start right up. The next day I tried to start it and it tried to catch, starter would kick out, but it would not run. Same thing over and over. It was a cold damp day, that seams to be the days it acts up.

I have not replaced the spark plugs (the gap is set correctly). I put regular unleaded in the gas tank. Could either one of these be the demon?

Thanks for the help, Lord knows I need it.

 

Look for cracks in the cap and coil that are leaking high voltage when it's damp. Try a hair dryer on them one at a time and see if you can dry out your problem area.

 

Sounds to me like a fuel line issue or a carb issue. I had the same problem with my F1 and it turned out to be the fuel line was clogged to the max. After sitting for a while enough fuel would seep through to fire up but it would stall out or quit running when I pushed the gas.

good luck....

31acoupe

 

Spend $15.00 and put a set of Autolite 216 plugs in it. Also put a timing light on it when you get it started again. Too much advance will make it hard to start.

 

It does sound like problem started when you moved timing--so try:
1. Get starter spinning with ignition switch still off, turniton while spinning.
2. If no luck there, line it up on timing mark with rotor pointing at #1 and static time it to stock before attempting start.

 

I agree with the advanced timing problem. You can be cranking on the distributor putting it were it sounds the best and think, that's it right there. Then shut her down and cool her off and then she won't start again. Start from scratch as Bruce suggested.

 

I had that happen with a bad ignition switch once. Will run good one time and act up the next.