A “get the Jeep running better “ saga

So back in March I picked up a rebuilt Carter carb and installed it replacing a Solex. This was to cure some issues with hard starting, flat spots and just not running quite right. But it was running. While I was at it I decided (because I was having charging issues) I would change out the alternator for a new one wire. And since I was gonna be under the dash with the alternator wiring and ammeter i’d go ahead and rewire the ignition circuit. In doing this I did away with the resistor by installing a new “internally resisted coil.

After doing all this I ran through and tuned it all up. Had it sitting in the driveway idling better than it ever had. Then I put the intake together. With the carburetor pulling air through the oil bath filter, idle was pulled down around 50 rpm. Thinking the oil bath was restricting air to the carburetor I replaced it with a K&N. 

After. having  done all this the end result was the motor would idle in the driveway fine. Once out on the road though, after a time it started sputtering and backfiring.

Then I realize I don’t have a filter in the fuel line. Sure there’s the upside down sediment bowl on the fuel pump. But that’s not really a filter is it. So thinking this was the problem.  I pulled the jets I could get to easy. Cleaned them and put a filter in line. Then it still ran fine in the driveway but still can’t make it to the mailbox.

Now I’m thinking when scout pilot sent me the Video he mentioned the fuel pressure. There was a regulator in line with the Solex carb. So I put it back on. No change.

Now I’m thinking maybe this isn’t a carburetor problem at all. Maybe the coil the parts guy sold me needs a resistor. So I put that back on. This got me past the mail box about half a mile. Where the motor finally quit and wouldn’t start.

After I got it towed home. It started right up. Now I’m thinking this is the typical condenser issue one hears about.  Not wanting to have this become a reoccurring problem I looked at options. I decided to go ahead and put a Pertronix in the old distributor. I had already got all the parts from Willy’s distributors and rebuilt it. So I called Pertronix and got the part numbers and ordered one up.

Once it was installed the motor ran fantastic. Took it out for a drive. Made it two miles from the house and it died. Made my phone call.  Help was on the way.  After waiting about ten minutes I forgot that it wouldn’t start and tried it. It fired right up. Just then my tow showed up so I just had them follow me home. As long as I kept the RPM’s down thins were going along fine. If I got over that it would start missing and backfiring.

Now I’m thinking the problem is in the high speed circuit of the carburetor. So this time I pull it off, disassemble it completely, and clean everything out. There was a lot of stuff in it that should not have been there. I assume from the time spent without a filter. Got it all back together and did my test drive. I’m getting smarter now though. When I get to the top of the hill and it starts acting up. I turn around. I got turned around and it died. I was able to coast back down into the driveway though.

OK I must have not got something in the carburetor put back in right. I was real careful, even took pictures as I took it apart. Still it’s worse than it was before. 

Considering my options I decide to clean out the Solex and put it back on. Things are looking good. This time I decide to take it over the hill out back. Low range keep the RPM’s down. Second trip around the dirt bike track. It died. At least I could walk back to the house. I waited about an hour and went back down. It fired right up and I drive back up to the house. I changed something else and tried again. This time it died and wouldn’t start.

When I get it back up to the house I’m going my tune up routine (I’m getting good at this)and I can’t get the timing light to go off on the number one wire. I try it on the coil wire and get an intermittent flash. The Pertronix instructions said something about not using certain types of wires.

Makes sense,  wires heat up,  resistance goes up, plugs don’t fire and it dies. 

Now I order up a set of Pertronix wires. They come in and I find I don’t have a plug wire crimper anymore. There are a couple of wiring tools in the box with crimpers on them. Neither of them doo a good job of it and I want this done right. So I order a new crimper. Some where along the way I lose one of the terminals. So I have to find a replacement. Turns out NAPA has them. I get  The wires all crimped up nice. And installed. Then I remember. Way back when I picked up the new condenser I also picked up a set of plugs. I decide that I might as well put them in to. So, I get em all gapped up and go to installing them.  I pulled out the first old plug. I have removed a lot of spark plugs. Never have I seen a plug as black and dirty as these.

In the end Jeep is running great. I put a little video of the last test run on the June “what did you do to your Jeep today topic” This is about the fifth trip around.

My fingers at crossed. But I may have figured it out. 

If so I’m probably about $400 or more and a lot of time into a set of spark plugs.  Next time I’m gonna start with the simple solution.