Philippe,
My first guess would be a fuel delivery problem, pump or filter. But since
you said that the car went faster with more initial ignition timing advance,
I would check to make sure your timing advance mechanisms are working.
Disconnect the vacuum line to the distributor, check the initial timing at
idle (4 to 6 degrees), then rev the engine to make sure the "mechanical
advance" advances another 20 degrees. Plug back in the vacuum line and check
the advance at idle. It should be the initial plus 22 degrees additional
vacuum advance. A "dial back" timing light (has a small knob that
artificially moves the timing image back to the visible timing scale on the
engine) works best for these tests. Another method to check the vacuum
advance is to raise the rpm up to a steady 1500 to 2000, snap the throttle
full open for a fraction of a second and then close it before the rpm gets
higher. The timing mark should drop significantly for that brief period when
the throttle is full open and the vacuum goes away.
I once had a 65 Dodge Coronet with a 383 automatic. It would usually go 50
mph in first, but one day it was very sluggish and would only go 30 mph.
Sounded like tons of power at full throttle, but it was like the speedometer
hit a wall at 30 mph. The mechanical advance weights were stuck, and the
vacuum advance doesn't apply at full throttle (no vacuum).
Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500
-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Philippe COURANT
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 12:34 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] curious "cruise control" on my '57
Hi,
Today the weather was fine so i made a short trip (40 miles) with
my '57. As i drive the car on straight road with few traffic, i
want to see if the car goes fast. So i put a heavy pressure on
the right pedal !! Speed increase fastly, 40, 50 , 60 mph but at
65 mph a curious thing appears: the engine suddently slows down
until speed return to 60 mph. The same feeling as if i've
released a little the gas pedal... Then (as i don't release the
pedal) the speed increases again until 65 mph then slows down,
then increases etc.. The gas pedal was not on the floor but there
was no effect if i pushed it to floor, no engine rev.
modification, like an automatic (and non adjustable !) cruise
control !!
I release the pedal until speed slows to 55 mph then i smash the
pedal to floor: the car rushs very fastly .. until i reach 65 mph
!! So impossible to exceed this speed, the engine speed decreases
every time..( except in a small downhill where the "max. speed"
is 70 mph).
I suspect two things: a vacuum advance problem (or a mechanical
advance problem) or a vacuum problem on secondary barrels of the
carb. But i "feel" the opening of the secondary when i smashed
the pedal below 65 mph !!
Advance was set to 12° btdc some weeks ago (no test at high speed
since), because before the setting was too high (20° !!) but car
ran fine with this high advance (and exceed 65 mph ..).
Any advises ?
--
Philippe COURANT (Pau, France)
Imperial 57 Crown convertible
Buick 58 Roadmaster sedan
- American Car Club de France (ACCF) : http://www.accf.com
- Chrysler Imperial France : http://www.ifrance.com/c-i-f
- Cadillac " Standard of Excellence " :
http://www.ifrance.com/accf-cad
- SportsCars : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-sprtcar
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