Old Fords are strange

[1937pickup]

I had my flathead for my 37 pickup rebuilt a number of years ago. It is not the original, 8ba. I never could get the engine to idle the way I wanted or thought it should. By the way the engine has about 7500 miles. It always had a noisy valve on start up that would quit down when it warmed up. I had the carb re-built by a guy who used to be on this site. I put Marvel Mystery oil down the carb and in the gas, thinking it was a sticky valve. It would not idle to my satisfaction. I was going to remove the distributor, crab style, and send it to Bubba for new points etc. If that didn't work I was going to "cheat" and increase the idle speed.
Yesterday I changed the engine oil, transmission oil rear end oil and greased the truck. I started the truck and low and behold it ran perfectly. It was so quiet and smooth I could not believe it. The engine ran the way I thought it should. You could have set a glass of water on the engine and not seen a ripple. I sat and watched it run in amazement for 10 minutes.
I have no idea what happened or why it did this. I will be starting it tomorrow to see if it is the same, I hope so. Maybe it just needed some love.

[mhsprecher]

It was afraid you were going to mess with it, so it got scared straight!

[40 Deluxe]

What viscosity and brand oil was in it before draining? How long had it been in there?

[Talkwrench]

? so the oil has been in it for 7500 miles??

[Brendan]

they love oil changes, a full tank of gas and a wash job!

[rotorwrench]

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You just have to rub them on their belly.

[Joe Immler]

Old Fords are strange? How about the owners? (: (:

[tubman]

There was probably a vacuum leak that fixed itself when something got tweaked or bent or whatever. I would expect it may return the next time you hit a major bump, or put it on the rack. Be prepared to track it down and fix it right when if returns. There are lots of threads on how to do this, propane torch, starting fluid, etc.

[1937pickup]

Originally Posted by tubman

There was probably a vacuum leak that fixed itself when something got tweaked or bent or whatever. I would expect it may return the next time you hit a major bump, or put it on the rack. Be prepared to track it down and fix it right when if returns. There are lots of threads on how to do this, propane torch, starting fluid, etc.

Never thought of that, I will keep this in mind if the problem comes back.

[1937pickup]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

What viscosity and brand oil was in it before draining? How long had it been in there?

Running a strait 40 weight Castrol. I change the oil every year, probably has less than 500 miles on it when changed.