Actually a timing light is more accurate and a bad accelerator pump will usually leak - but I'll agree if a fracture in it could suck air - just under fuel pressure not likely without leakage unless low fuel pressure to boot.

 

gcar and goinstrong:

Thanks for the ideas. And sorry about this font, it seems to have a mind of it's own. I have a "dial in" timing light that is much more useful to me in most cases. On this car, however, the timing mark is just gone! So, what ever it is at now is just a relative place to start. I guess I could get it to TDC on #1 and put a mark somewhere convenient and go from there? What do you think?

 

You must be sure both VALVES on number one are closed to get TDC or you'll end up marking TDC as the piston at the top of exhaust stroke. You need to spin the engine over with the ignition grounded and your finger over the number one spark plug hole (use a remote starter). When your finger blows out it's on compression with both valves closed (firing and actual TDC). Or you could just pull the valve cover at number one and look at the valves to see they're both shut for compression at TDC then mark TDC on the crank when the piston is at Top (Dead Center) - carefully check with wire coat hanger straight onto top of piston.

 

Thanks again. I have printed your response for when we get around to it.

 

After all these months, we found that the strange plate under the carb was broken and sucking air. Why in the world is it not an equal thickness plate? It is higher/thicker on one side as if the intake manifold is not level??

 

Accelerator pump could very well be shot but you would see fuel leakage or seepagemost likely. A fuel pump could also be bad. I'd suggest replacing them as a set (seeing as how the accelerator pump is only abuck or sounless you buy it in a carb. kit). What often happens is the rubber in these two parts slowly breaks down over years and they develop troubles. Same with the vacuum advance. I believe timing for most Fords of those years is about 15 degrees BTC. 10 would be seriously lagging.