[DeTomaso] Resurrection

[Mikael]

Some thoughts...

If it's like a switch being thrown as opposed to something that creeps up on
you, that usually indicates ignition, not carb. Regardless:
Carb: the feel of missing cylinders and having to rev it to keep it alive
and black soot, I've tried that in a boat I bought with a Dominator, it was
hardened power valve. But it was all the time...
Could also be fuel bowls overflowing due to dirt, you need that fuel filter.
Dirt could disappear again, thereby fixing itself until next time. Any sign
of overflow? Like dirt on the intake, major engine fires?!?!
Ignition: I had something similar on my Longchamp for a while with a Mallory
electronic distr, the problem disappeared when I fixed a not too good
battery ground wire. My starting when hot problems also disappeared. The
simple things...

If none of the above helps, I would borrow or buy ignition components until
fixed

Mikael

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: Charles McCall [mailto:charlesmccall at gmail.com] 
Sendt: 14. april 2013 15:17
Til: detomaso at poca.com
Emne: [DeTomaso] Resurrection

1) ..and on the third day, they pushed the rock aside (opened the garage
door) and found the cave empty with the exception of a loincloth (California
Car Cover). The Pantera has come back to life again, for the first time of
the year! 

 

2) Resurrection of a subject kicked around last year but without coming to
conclusions.. My engine for the past couple of years has had an intermittent
problem where it feels like a couple of cylinders cut out. I'd like to
resurrect the subject to see if we can come up with some new ideas. 

 

At first I suspected it was a fuel issue, and disassembled the carb. I did
find a lot of very fine powder in the float bowls, which I cleaned out, and
installed a fuel filter. 

 

I changed the spark plugs to rule out a fouling or failing plug. I haven't
changed the wires. 

 

Symptoms - car can run fine for hours or days or months. Then it feels like
a switch has been thrown and one or perhaps two cylinders stop firing. I
have to put my foot into it to keep the engine running. Black smoke comes
out the exhaust, and it I let the revs drop below 2000, the engine will die.
This may last for as little as 5 minutes, or as long as 20, although the
rough running tends to be interrupted by arriving at my destination. But as
quickly as the problem arrives, it suddenly heals itself, the engine goes
back to firing on all cylinders, idles happily at 1000rpm, and all is well.
Perhaps for a day, perhaps for a month, or perhaps for an hour. 

 

My engine - 351C, Compcamps 282S cam, Aussie 2v closed chamber heads, Weiand
Excelerator intake, Holley 700DP, MSD 6AL, MSD coil. Motorcraft AF42 plugs.
MSD plug wires. 

 

We had just started talking about whether MSD boxes could act like this when
the thread dropped off last year. If this isn't fuel related and is spark
related, what can I check? 

 

Thanks!

 

Charles McCall
Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe
1985 DeTomaso Pantera #9375
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