It's probably not plugs, though that won't hurt. I would start looking
around the distributor cap and rotor, and maybe the points and condensor.
Maybe bad wires. Pay particular attention to the spinner point between the
rotor and the coil wire, and also to the inside of the cap around the
Cylinder No. 1 and 3 terminals. I would put money on some problem inside
the cap letting it short or arc to another plug.
One other possibility is bad bearings on the distributor allowing the rotor
to move away from some terminals. This is also pretty common on 235's,
that's what that grease cup everyone forgets about under the distributor is
for.
I've seen all these cause this.
Bruce Kettunen
57 3200
Mt. Iron, MN
> Today, while continuing to track down the source of my 235 idle and
>acceleration hesitation/ miss, I was checking the timing using a timing
>light. Previously, I had used my vacuum gauge and my ear to set timing. I
>was using a Sears induction light. Anyway, I noticed that the light did not
>appear to be flashing all the time, missing a flash now and then at idle. I
>of course had it hooked to #1 cylinder for the test. My first thought was
>that the timing light was malfunctioning. I hooked the light to my 97 S-10
>V6 and it never missed a flash, so the light was good.
> Back to the 235. Same thing and when I revved the gas, the timing light
>skipped a few more flashes that coincided with the hesitation. I moved the
>indication pickup to each plug wire to see how each responded. #2 flashed
>each and every time, #3 only flashed about half the time, etc. After
>checking all the plug wires, it dawned on me that if no current were flowing
>thru the plug wire, (meaning the plug isn't firing) then the timing light
>won't flash. I went and got a new set of plugs, but since I was late for a
>wedding, I haven't had a chance to install them to see if the idle/run
>problem is fixed.
> What I wanted to share, is that your timing light can be used for more than
>just timing the engine. Use it as a troubleshooting aid to see if each
>cylinder is firing consistently as it should. Try it out next time.
>
>Mike Klepp
>'48 3100
>Wichita Falls, TX
>
>PS Doug and Bill, your patches are on the way.
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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