I have a small problem with my 302 in my Mav. It just started doing a real anoying thing yesterday. At low RPM's it coughs and sputters and will sometimes back fire out the carb. I have a Performer intake with a Edelbrock 1405 carb, on a mildly built 302. What could it be? I have checked the fuel mix, timing, changed my metering rods, checked the point gap etc. but it still does it. I will try to put on a fuel pressure regulator tomorrow. It does have an electric fuel pump that it getting noisy. Any other ideas? Rod
With a timing lite, check to see that the timing advances smoothly when the engine speed increased to at least 2500 rpm. If it jumps around there is a problem with the advance or the possibly the weights sticking or if still a point dist. a problem shorting out on the plate. Move the plate by hand and see if the condenser lead or somthing is hitting the case. Look at the condenser attachment to the points. Good luck.
Have run into the primary wire on points distributor shorting out also as Ken describes, also remove rotor and try moving shaft back and forth to see if distributor housing itself is worn out. Your timing light is the best tool to diagnose some of these problems. Is the vacum advance working ok? Is there enough vacum to pull it, would like to know your mild build up on the engine, cam, etc. Just my opinion, scrap the points and get a duraspark set up out of a donor car. Plugs, wires, coil and all need to be systematically checked and eliminated as the culprit. As frustrating as it is, with patients and beer brake now and then, the little gremlins will be sorted out and she will again purr like a kitten. Good hunting.
302 tune up I gave it a good once over yesterday. I just bought it, so I am new to the 302. I have found the points to be wrong, and the timing was way off. It was set to 25deg, and it should be at 6deg, right? Rod
beer brake Old Guy, I just noticed that you were from Ark. I get down that way often as my mother and brother live in Paragould. Have you ever raced at george rays in paragould? I here alot of people use it for testing before running at that place south of Mountain Home, can't think of the name. Anyways just wondering if you were from anywhere near the north east corner for a possible beer brake sometime. I just thought of it!! Newport, I've been there once back in 1982, I used to live in Gainesville, Mo. just north of Mountain Home, so it was a pretty good treck to newport.
