My 1970 Galaxie 500 (351w) won't start and I can't take hearing one
more person say "I know what's wrong with it ...it's a Ford"

I like this car because it's old and uncomplicated (and cool), yet it has me stumped.

It was running perfectly 3 days ago. I drove it to a location 15
minutes away and let it sit for about 3 hours. I got in to drive home,
fired it up and 2 seconds later it died all by itself. Something that
had never happened before. So I started it again and drove home. I stayed
there for about 30 minutes and started off again. It started normally
for the last time. I drove slowly 30 feet to the edge of my parking lot and
it just died. This time seemingly for good.

Over the last three days I have replaced the battery, the points, the
condenser, and an ignition coil. I have dumped gas in the carb just to
see. I have removed a valve cover to see if my rocker arms would tell
me of a broken timing chain. The chain is good. I tried to tweak the
timing by turning the distributor, but it had zero effect. I had put
on a new cap and rotor just a few weeks ago along with new wires and
plugs.

Today a friend was saying that he sure thought it sounded like points.
So I went back to my car for a sneak peak during my work day. I
regapped the points a little bigger than spec (spec is .021 right?)
and it actually started for about 15 seconds. It ran like total ****,
but it ran. I was just starting to pack up my tools when it died again
and it wouldn't restart just like before.

What else is there? I have great spark, I have plenty of gas and last
time I checked I was breathing air. What can I replace? What will it
take to make this usually compliant Ford obey me again?

Thanks in advance.

-Jeff (tortured new Ford owner)



[IMG]local://upfiles/2852/3DFC9787F7B74CBEB08973BC2479870F.jpg[/IMG]

 

hmmm...any chance that it jumped time? how about a bad distributor gear on the cam?

 

If it jumped time it would turn over slowly, if it is spinning fast then I would rule out any timing issue.

Sounds to me like possibly a ground problem somewhere related to a ignition part.

Take the cap off and have someone turn it over.....if the points are opening and closing then you you shouldnt have any problems related to cam gears.

One other possible thing.....did the old plugs look fouled out? You may have a float problem.

later,
Dustin

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

I thought that maybe my timing chain had slipped so I took it all apart and found that while Ford used plastic teeth on the timing gear in 1970, the timing was perfect. (Although one of the plastic teeth was cracked 3/4 of the way through and the belt was loose as a goose) So I replaced my timing chain and gears (replacements are all metal) along with a new water pump just cause I was in there already.

Then today I was scowering my ignition for something and I found a pink wire that had a slightly melted casing and in a teeny tiny exposed spot where it was grounding out to the steering column. I think this must have happened because the hack that owned the car before me put in some cheap ugly gauges that crimp right on to the exhisting wires.

So your advice to look for an ignition ground was right on!

Thanks again

Jeffrey James

www.jefjam.net