Ignition Question, My diaphragm was cracked--still not Prego! Options

[Robarabian]

Collective brain trust help needed.

Car is a 1971 1.7. Finished my rebuild, now 1911 CC's. (ECU non adjustable)

Car runs a Pertronix Ignition. Distributor was disassembled, cleaned and re-lubed.

Static timed the car and started it, and ran it for about 18 minutes at 2500-3000 rpm to break in the cam and rings. Did my oil change and then it sat for a few weeks.

Started it to finally set the timing and it started running rough, and I can tell it is on 3 cyl, sometimes 4, and spits, coughs etc. I know it isn't timed right and cant time it until it is on 4 cylinders.

Fuel pressure on an inline gauge is at 30 psi.

Pulled #1 and #2 plugs, they are the right color.

Pulled #3 and #4 and they are wet, and have remnants of being the right color from the cam break in.

Checked all the connections, but don't quite know where to start. The trigger points were clean in the distributor when I disassembled it, and it ran right for cam break in.

Cap, rotor, plugs, wires are all new. MPS holds vacuum.

Thoughts on what I am missing here or where would you start digging first.

I thank you in advance.

[Robarabian]

Ok, some progress.

It runs on 4. I brain farted removing the distributor so many times, I switched #3 and #4. I had verified spark first, then looked at the cap and realized the wires were off.

It starts with a turn of the key, cranks a bit slow cause timing is still off but fires easily. Adjusted fuel pressure to 29 psi.

It fires and runs and then dies within a few seconds. If I can get off the key fast enough and work the throttle, it will run and maintain a high rpm, say 2500, but when I release, it will cough and then die. It restarts after resetting the ignition key and giving it a crank.


The cylinder head temp sensor was new from pelican...I verified it is plugged in solid.


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