Not a stang question...but still ford...360 help

freak007 · 03-22-2002, 09:48 AM

hello,my parents own a 76 ford PU with a stock 360 2bbl and a 4 speed,it had'nt had a tune up in years,and was only getting 8MPG,so I gave it a tuneup,new plugs,wires,cap,rotor,and timing,I did not replace the condensor,when I did the timing,it had been off 4-6 degrees,the carb had been tinkered with too,the accelerator pump rod was in the top hole,I moved it down a hole to where it is supposed to be,before the tune up it would miss BAD from 40-50MPH,once past that rpm it got better...

before if you were downshifting,in a corner and stomped on it comeing out,it would stumble...now it burns the tires...it still stumbles at 40-50,but not as bad

my problem is it now gets only 6 MPG...
I need to know the "best"place to set the timeing for mileage and power,also the easiest way to adjust the carb,and why is it stumbleing...

freak007 · 03-26-2002, 09:25 AM

anyone???ohh yes,one more thing,it is only pulling 5 inches of vaccum...

HotRoddin · 03-27-2002, 11:15 PM

Sounds to me like a major vaccum leak ?

73 Mustang Boy · 03-28-2002, 10:53 AM

Seems like no one else has a clue so I can give it a try. First, did you replace the points and set the gap correctly? If not I would suggest dooing this first and go ahead and replace the condensor too, it will be worth it. Try setting the timing at about 10 deg. then test it and change it a few degrees and try again. There is no real set number for timing each motor is diffrent, you just have to expiriment. As for your gas mileage, Ford FE series motors are gas hogs to begin with. 6-8 mpg sounds right if you are "stomping on it comming out of a corner" as you explained. I would not expect more than 12-15 mpg out of that truck under easy driving and a good tune up. The vacuume readings you took are they manifold or timed vacuume? How many miles is on the motor(aka how bad does it need a rebuild)? What gear ratio does the truck have? (4.11's are not good for gas mileage). I hoe I could give you some ideas on what, if anything, needs to be done. If you have any more questions just ask and I will see what I can do.

freak007 · 03-29-2002, 08:30 AM

ok,first it has electronic ignition,I did not replace the condensor,but when i said about "stomping on it coming out of a corner"it was a power comparison,not how the truck is normally driven,it is normally driven very nicely(cause otherwise it only gets 3mpg!!),I have checked for vaccum leaks around the manifold and carb base and found none,the vaccum reading I took was at the manifold,yesteday under the advise of some locals I advanced the timing from fords reccomendation of 6* to 10*,the idle smoothed out,the vaccum went up to 6 inches,and there was a slight power increase,mileage has yet to be determined,but an a whim,when I disconnected the vaccum advance I plugged it with my gauge and got a reading of...ZERO,I belive this is part of the reason for bad mileage/missing at 40-50MPH,I will look into it some more...

how much differance will a 4bbl make on mileage/performance??

73 Mustang Boy · 03-30-2002, 04:45 PM

The vaccume line going to the dist should be timed vaccume this will be near zero at idle and raise with engine rpm's. If there is no vaccume off idle that could be your problem.

freak007 · 04-05-2002, 07:33 AM

ok thanx,how much vaccum should i have at the distributor at say...1500rpms??

freak007 · 04-09-2002, 07:55 AM

ok-update...I checked vaccum at distributor again...it pulls 22 inches at 2500...sounds good to me...

73 Mustang Boy · 04-09-2002, 10:19 AM

Check the timing and see how high the total advance is. rev the motor to say 3000 rpm and see where the timing is there. also pull one of the new plugs and make sure there is no burrning or oily buildup on them. Look in a service manual they always have a plug diagnosis guide. tell me how it turns out.

03-22-2002, 09:48 AM	#1
freak007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	Not a stang question...but still ford...360 help hello,my parents own a 76 ford PU with a stock 360 2bbl and a 4 speed,it had'nt had a tune up in years,and was only getting 8MPG,so I gave it a tuneup,new plugs,wires,cap,rotor,and timing,I did not replace the condensor,when I did the timing,it had been off 4-6 degrees,the carb had been tinkered with too,the accelerator pump rod was in the top hole,I moved it down a hole to where it is supposed to be,before the tune up it would miss BAD from 40-50MPH,once past that rpm it got better... before if you were downshifting,in a corner and stomped on it comeing out,it would stumble...now it burns the tires...it still stumbles at 40-50,but not as bad my problem is it now gets only 6 MPG... I need to know the "best"place to set the timeing for mileage and power,also the easiest way to adjust the carb,and why is it stumbleing...

03-28-2002, 10:53 AM	#4
73 Mustang Boy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 84	Seems like no one else has a clue so I can give it a try. First, did you replace the points and set the gap correctly? If not I would suggest dooing this first and go ahead and replace the condensor too, it will be worth it. Try setting the timing at about 10 deg. then test it and change it a few degrees and try again. There is no real set number for timing each motor is diffrent, you just have to expiriment. As for your gas mileage, Ford FE series motors are gas hogs to begin with. 6-8 mpg sounds right if you are "stomping on it comming out of a corner" as you explained. I would not expect more than 12-15 mpg out of that truck under easy driving and a good tune up. The vacuume readings you took are they manifold or timed vacuume? How many miles is on the motor(aka how bad does it need a rebuild)? What gear ratio does the truck have? (4.11's are not good for gas mileage). I hoe I could give you some ideas on what, if anything, needs to be done. If you have any more questions just ask and I will see what I can do. __________________ 73 coupe, 351W, GT-40 heads, edlebrock 750, offenhauser intake, .488 lift cam, 2.5 exhaust, 2 chamber flowmasters, blah, blah, blah...

03-30-2002, 04:45 PM	#6
73 Mustang Boy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 84	The vaccume line going to the dist should be timed vaccume this will be near zero at idle and raise with engine rpm's. If there is no vaccume off idle that could be your problem. __________________ 73 coupe, 351W, GT-40 heads, edlebrock 750, offenhauser intake, .488 lift cam, 2.5 exhaust, 2 chamber flowmasters, blah, blah, blah...

04-09-2002, 10:19 AM	#9
73 Mustang Boy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 84	Check the timing and see how high the total advance is. rev the motor to say 3000 rpm and see where the timing is there. also pull one of the new plugs and make sure there is no burrning or oily buildup on them. Look in a service manual they always have a plug diagnosis guide. tell me how it turns out. __________________ 73 coupe, 351W, GT-40 heads, edlebrock 750, offenhauser intake, .488 lift cam, 2.5 exhaust, 2 chamber flowmasters, blah, blah, blah...

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03-26-2002, 09:25 AM	#2
freak007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	anyone???ohh yes,one more thing,it is only pulling 5 inches of vaccum...

03-27-2002, 11:15 PM	#3
HotRoddin cranky old man Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Longview Texas Posts: 683	Sounds to me like a major vaccum leak ?

03-29-2002, 08:30 AM	#5
freak007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	ok,first it has electronic ignition,I did not replace the condensor,but when i said about "stomping on it coming out of a corner"it was a power comparison,not how the truck is normally driven,it is normally driven very nicely(cause otherwise it only gets 3mpg!!),I have checked for vaccum leaks around the manifold and carb base and found none,the vaccum reading I took was at the manifold,yesteday under the advise of some locals I advanced the timing from fords reccomendation of 6* to 10*,the idle smoothed out,the vaccum went up to 6 inches,and there was a slight power increase,mileage has yet to be determined,but an a whim,when I disconnected the vaccum advance I plugged it with my gauge and got a reading of...ZERO,I belive this is part of the reason for bad mileage/missing at 40-50MPH,I will look into it some more... how much differance will a 4bbl make on mileage/performance??

04-05-2002, 07:33 AM	#7
freak007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	ok thanx,how much vaccum should i have at the distributor at say...1500rpms??

04-09-2002, 07:55 AM	#8
freak007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5	ok-update...I checked vaccum at distributor again...it pulls 22 inches at 2500...sounds good to me...