backfires & no acceleration
 

'31 Ford backfires & has no acceleration, what causes this? Car came out of 10 year storage, ran ok. Gave it some 'Sea Foam', let it set for a day, it started and idled fine, but when driving it wouldn't accelerate and backfired. Answers?

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Fuel issue
Spark issue
Mech engine issue
Clean and adjust the points first
The rest takes further qualified diagnosis

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Do as Mitch says but also could be the gas in the tank has loosened some crud, restricting the flow.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

When the car was put away was everything ok? When my car came out of storage it behaved as you are describing. Turned out to be valves out of adjustment. Lot's of things to consider here so pick a starting point and start eliminating reasons for the behavior.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Agree, Don't just start throwing parts at it. Systematically work your way through it. Start with the simple things, clean and adjust the points, recheck timing, check the fuel flow to the carburetor, take the carburetor apart and clean it. I will bet after the sea foam crud has been loosened up and you are getting fuel flow issues.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Many similar experiences with engines after five (5) to ten (10) years of engines not running.

Perfect case for L head engine type valves sticking because of gummy old brown varnish on valve stems and inside valve guides ...... valves moving too slowing and some stuck effecting "valve timing" causing backfiring and loss of power ..... gas/air mixture is pumped out of combustion chamber into exhaust manifold and ignited causing backfire.

Vintage 100% cure:

1. Remove (4) plugs and pour (2) cups of Kerosene in each spark plug hole.

3. Allow engine to sit a "minimum" of 24 hours.

4. After it starts, run engine for about (3) minutes.

5. Drain oil/kerosene from oil pan & replenish with fresh oil and take off.

No kerosene ................. use Diesel .......... never gasoline.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Step 3a: Install plugs

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

An additional simple step is to be sure the fuel shut-off it open. The fuel shutoff is on the inside of the car against the firewall of the passenger side. Straight up and down is open.

Matt

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Would Marvel Mystery Oil work?

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

First & only thing I would do ; put in another condensor.
After that, work thru ignition & fuel system, one thing at a time.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

FIRST - BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE - set you point gap.

second, check timing

third, change condensor.

99 times out of 100 fuel and mechanical problems turn out to be timing.

Re: backfires & no acceleration
 

Hi 39,

What happens is that the vehicle is parked with well oiled valve stems and well oiled valve guides and the engine is allowed to just sit unattended.

Over quite a bit of time, the volatiles in the thick oil evaporate & it leave a dense sticky petroleum residue on valve stem surfaces and valve guide surfaces.

If one wants only a 24 hour soaking, this sticky residue can be dissolved with a thin liquid with more of a cutting action like thinner kerosene or diesel.

Liquid Wrench I found works far faster, but is more expensive ..... thicker Marvel Mystery Oil may work, I just never tried it.

Learned long time ago to try what once worked successfully ...... time is of the essence, and life is too short to try to experiment with everything in life that may not work. LOL