My pinto is too hot!

[Bigfishcampers]

Hi everyone-

This is my first Pinto (first car I have been immersed in actually) and I have learnt ALOT so far in trying to get the thing running right, but I just cant figure out how to figure out why it is running too hot!

I think perhaps it is running too rich, but I have pulled the carb apart (weber 32/36 DGAV 3D3) and given it all a damn good clean, I checked the jets and they are correct for the engine according haynes. After fiddling with the tuning for ages I realised the idle adjust screw was loose in the casing and was without spring or O-ring. I thought perhaps that this may cause a vacuum leak thus sucking in too much fuel and making the engine run too hot, but I was advised that it would do the opposite and make it run a little richer. I have a replacement on the way anyway.

If I pull the plugs out they are coked up and covered in fuel. The exhaust spits out a combo of soot and water... thought that was oil at first... phew!

The timing is correct and all of the leads fire nicely.

I just installed an accuspark electronic ignition to the ford diz. It works just fine and get a spark from the main ht lead if I hold it to the casing. I checked the coils secondary windings with a multimeter set to 20ohms and it came up 05.08ish which I believe means the coil is on its way out? I read the minimum should be more like 11?


I was wondering if the coil wasn't generating enough of a spark then maybe the engine could be sucking in more fuel than it can generally burn off? and so when it does ignite its a larger bang perhaps?

I can get it going if I hook up some jump leads and really turn it over whilst squirting a little easy start into the intake, but again it will live for a second and then die once again.

I've been turning the diz bit by bit and starting it to see if it is a timing issue, but this has borne no fruits and now I am a little stuck. I read the electronic ignition can flip the timing 180 degrees... is there a way to check that?

I know there are so many questions, but I need to fill the gaps between the stuff I cant seem to find on the internet so I'm asking straight up. Any tips on tuning these carbs would be awesome too.......

Thankyou so much in advance!

[Bigfishcampers]

Sorry for the delay! You know when you learn that one thing that opens the floodgates of understanding and suddenly you feel like a mad genius running around the workshop grabbing tools and speaking in tongues? Well that was me all of yesterday, so I hadn't time to check here unfortunately.

So my epiphanies sort of snowballed yesterday... The big clunk was the starter motor trying to turn the engine but failing to as something was stuck inside somewhere, I reckon whilst messing with the diz I put the timing far too far out and it seized somehow. After trawling the internet for hours trying to figure out how I had wired the ignition wrong and somehow blown up the starter motor, someone mentioned in a video on a completely unrelated note to turn the thing over by hand, which I did, and it was fine, praise be to youtube.

So then after checking I definately had a spark I went into town and bought a new coil and ballast, this seemed to do the trick. This coil was kicking out nearer to 09.00 ohms and now it starts everytime.

I may have fixed and improved the ignition and accurately set the timing (10btdc was the recommended on the internet) but the original heat problem still persists. The transportation protection plug off of a leisure battery made the perfect plug for the tunnel in which the mixture screw sits, so no more vaccum leak, however I still have a maintenance kit for the carb coming anyway. That doesn't include jets Bertrum, but I will order some today if I can.

I will check the rad today S0 What, it has one very puny aftermarket fan aimed at the exhausts, I really don't think its doing very much. I havn't checked the thermostat so I could do that today.

FiF and powerstroke. The pinto is installed into a 1962 Bedford Romany Dormobile. I bought it as a non runner, we intend to rent it out as a camper... at some point. I havn't got a temp gauge or a temp gun so I couldn't say exactly how hot it is getting, but its definately running hotter than it should, the plugs are roasting, black and wet when you pull them out and I saw a couple of embers fall about the place... not sure where they came from though.

I will definately check the cooling systems today, every step is getting me closer, I m just a little worried that hot, black and wet plugs could be something a little more sinister within the casing somewhere?

Thanks for the replies all, here is a picture

[Bigfishcampers]

Hi FiF and S0 What,

The plugs are accuspark AF7C, I have no idea whether these are right or wrong, any suggestions as to some better plugs? I'll get a picture in a the end. Its not boiling over or spitting or any of the like, I can just tell from sitting next to it that it is.

I had a cosy with the rad and the thing is basically cold all over with the exception of a couple warmish spots, i'm looking into buying a new one. On the side with the filler cap there is a small moulded plastic tube coming off of it that look as though it should have a pipe on it, unsure if it is just some kind of pressure... um hole? I have no idea what it is, but it looks important, I'll get a pic of that too!

How can I check the earths? and i'm so sorry but what on earth is a sender?

After having a play with it today I have come to the conclusion that the radiator is most definately not doing its job and that is most surely contributing to the heat, but the black plugs... I was watching the auto choke today and it seemed to be letting far too much air through when I put my foot on the gas, when I play with the butterflies I can get it to run alot smoother.

Alternator is also near the end of its life I think!

Here are some pics