Re: 65 Rambler - Gasoline Geyser - Help?!

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Brian,

The cloud of gas you're seeing is from the distributor being in wrong. 
Chances are, it's off 180 degrees. To see if that's the problem, just move 
the plug wires on the sparks plugs. If that fixes it, you can either leave 
it as-is or remove the distributor and turn the rotor 180 degrees. Also, 
when the #1 cylinder is at TDC, both the rotor and vacuum advance can 
should be roughly parallel to the engine block. Take a look at 
http://www.mattsoldcars.com/RestoreAmerican/new_lines.shtml to see what my 
distributor looks like.

Also, it is possible to put a new starter in by yourself. I've had to do it 
twice on my American (first time was in a friend's driveway at night in 15 
degree weather, second time was after I swapped transmissions). What I did 
was fish the starter up from the bottom, put it in the tranny and start the 
bottom bolt (easier said than done, but doable). Once the bottom bolt is 
started, I went up top and put the top bolt in. If you can't hold the 
starter with one hand and start a bolt with the other, you can also install 
a stud in the bottom hole (top hole uses a special bolt) and use that 
instead of a bolt. As a last resort, you can remove the intake and exhaust 
manifolds and you'll then have plenty of room to work on it (a procedure to 
re-install the manifolds can be found at 
http://www.mattsoldcars.com/RestoreAmerican/loose_intake.shtml). You should 
be able to R&R the manifolds in about two hours but doing that risks 
snapping the exhaust manifold to pipe studs.

Matt

At 05:44 PM 11/21/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> The Patient: 1965 AMC Rambler American 440  232 6cyl  with a lean burn 
> Carter WC carb (previous owner did install). I can't exactly tell what 
> model carb it is (2 barrel) because the lean burn system covers the area 
> on the carb where the model number is cast. You can see a picture of it below.
>
> The Diagnosis:  This car is new to me, ive owned it for 3 weeks, and other 
> than driving it up into my driveway once i havent driven it at all. This 
> is the now infamous "car that moos" that I posted about earlier.
>
> Whats new:  I replaced all the plugs and wires. New cap and rotor. New 
> Pertronix elec ignition w/new pertronix Flamethrower coil.  I bought a 
> rebuidt distributor for the car, but when i was trying to install it, i 
> cracked the base. So i instead moved the vacuum, and the 'guts' from the 
> 'New" distributor into the "old" one.  Installed.
>
> I pulled the plugs and manually (using a big wrench on the front of the 
> engine) and set it to TDC on Cylinder 1.  I double-tripled checked the 
> spark plug wiring. Everything looks a-ok.   The Pertronix ignition wires 
> (red and black) go directly to the coil (red on +, black on -)
>
> ((I also was going to replace the mooing starter today with a new one i 
> purchased. But then I realized that its next to impossible to replace a 
> starter alone!  Somebodys got to hold it, while the other guy bolts it in! 
> So, until i can get it on a lift, the mooing starter stays.))
>
> The Symptoms:
> Well, the carb geysers gasoline!  The best way to describe it is to watch 
> this short Quicktime video I made of it.
> http://www.brianhagen.com/carb.mov
> A picture of carb:
> http://www.brianhagen.com/carb.jpg
>
> For those without Quicktime.. The car will crank (wrr wrr wrr wrr) and 
> then PFT! a cloud of gasoline will shoot out of the carb!  It reminds me 
> of when my 2 year old sneezes on me, very wet. The car of course... doesnt 
> start.
>
> Since the timing seems to be ok, and since everything is pretty much brand 
> new, the carb is my suspect.  The carb always seemed "bad". The linkage 
> doesn't move smoothly. But before i did my entire igntion changeover, it 
> would start. Now all i get is a gasoline Old Faithful! So im left to wonder.
>
> I'd love to replace this lean burn carb with something that well, 
> runs!  And runs better.   Or does this geyser say that something is wrong 
> in my ignition setup?  Any ideas appreciated. ANY!
>
> .....Id love to be able to drive this car someday ;-)

mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1966 Rambler Rebel
1968 Rambler American sedan
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