Hickups

[61 Silver]

I have just completed the restoration on my 61 270HP and I am just starting to enjoy driving the car. I have one problem that I just can not seem to solve and it is driving me crazy. The carburetors were rebuilt over a year ago and were used for only 300 miles prior to start of restoration. The 61 ran fine with no carburetor problems prior to the restoration. The 270HP engine now has a hiccup when the car is in forth gear and at a steady speed (2200 RPM's). The hiccup or hiccups are not constant and may only happen a few times with in a short trip or there can be a series of hiccups at different intervals. I feel no hesitation or hiccups while accelerating or when I kick in the second carburetor. I have cleaned the rear carburetor (again), internal fuel filter or screen and the fuel bowl. I installed new spark plug wires in case I had damaged one and was getting a spark jump. Can anyone please suggest where I should look next? We only have a few more good driving weeks left here in Western NY and I would like to enjoy the car before I put it away for the Winter.

Thanks for any help!

Ray

 

[IH2LOSE]

I cant help you with your hickup

But I did want to complement you on your car it looks spectacular.You should be very proud of it.

 

[JohnZ]

I doubt if it's carburetor-related, as you have no fuel supply issues under acceleration or WOT. I'd start checking out the ignition system - points, condenser, dwell, chafed primary wire from distributor to coil, rotor, cap, coil connections, plug wires fully seated in the cap, ballast resistor, no intermittent contact from the wire terminals at the coil (+) terminal with the inside of the upper ignition shield, etc.

 

[61 Silver]

Hiccups

Thanks John for you response. I believe that I have burnt my third set of points on the left side. I am having a hard time finding the correct ballast resistor. I have called all the auto part stores in my area looking for a set of Blue Streak # DR2236XP points and a DR60X condenser with no luck. Could you please recommend what I should use to solve my electrical problem? I currently have the 091 coil with the stock dual point distributor. Any help would be greatly appreciated!



IH2LOSE: Thanks for the compliments on my 1961!

 

[vettefinderjim]

Portronix to the rescue?

Due to the poor supply of good GM point sets, many people are converting their ignition systems over to electronic guts. Portronix is one way of using todays technolodgy and 'keeping' the original look.

I have recently heard that 'PARAGON' is making a correct re-po ballast resistor. But it may also be time to pull that distributor and put in on an old fashion Sun machine for a ' distributor' tune up.

Single point sets work well if the distributor is re-worked. I do not think you will twist that pretty 270hp motor over 6500RPM. So why dowe need the duel point set up? Unless of course, NCRS says we must !!

 

[JohnZ]

Thanks John for you response. I believe that I have burnt my third set of points on the left side. I am having a hard time finding the correct ballast resistor. I have called all the auto part stores in my area looking for a set of Blue Streak # DR2236XP points and a DR60X condenser with no luck. Could you please recommend what I should use to solve my electrical problem? I currently have the 091 coil with the stock dual point distributor. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Ray, I always used foil-packed Delco D-103 points and D-203 condenser; just sold about six sets a few months ago I had squirreled away (sold my '57 two years ago, didn't need them any more). They come up on eBay all the time. The Paragon reproduction ballast resistor (around 2.1 ohms) works just fine - pretty well matches the 1.8 ohm Delco resistor that was released in '64 (replacing the original 0.3 ohm resistor that resulted in short point life).

Point-burning is also frequently caused by a condenser going bad; your symptoms fit that possibility, as only one set of points is burning - with dual points, the primary set closes, and the secondary set opens, triggering the coil, and it's the secondary set that will burn if the condenser is bad.

 

[vettefinderjim]

John Z has the answers!!!

Your the man John. You add so much knowledge to this hobby.

How times have changed. Last week, a good friend went to our local Chevrolet parts dept. and asked for a set of "D-103 points and a D-203 condensor"

The parts man looked at him and said. " Excuse me.......what are points?"

It was the senior old gray haired guy that had to explain that Chevrolet did not service that part anymore.

 

[JohnZ]

Jim, it's beginning to be the same way with distributors, not just points - most modern engines haven't had distributors for almost ten years, and many younger dealership techs have never seen one. Gotta depend on us old farts to share the knowledge....

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Jim, it's beginning to be the same way with distributors, not just points - most modern engines haven't had distributors for almost ten years, and many younger dealership techs have never seen one. Gotta depend on us old farts to share the knowledge....

Yeah.........Next to go are the Spark Plugs and Coil Packs.....Soon we'll all be running DC Motors and Solal Pannels on our Mid Years...

 

[61 Silver]

Hiccup

Thanks to all! The engine is now running GREAT!; lets see how long it last.
John, thanks for all your help, I posted additional information on the NCRS site.

 

[studiog]

Hey Ray, Glad John got you straightened out and you are back in business with no hickups. Enjoy the fall driving season while it lasts!