Engine tuner needed.......Help !!

[[e-mail]]

Hi Guys,

I have a Cobra with a 383 Stroker Chevvy and its popping and banging also runs on when ignition switched off, I am looking for someone who can tune the engine local to me, I live in Altrincham, South Manchester and would be grateful for any contacts......

Peter

[Slinky]

http://www.john-sleath.com/

[[e-mail]]

Hey that was quick, many thanks, Doncaster is a far way from South Manchester so I assume they are mobile?

[Slinky]

Not mobile, but really rather good.. Worth driving it in a trailer if you have to..

[[e-mail]]

Thanks again but it will be too far with car in state it is in, I am worried it will damage the engine if driven the timing is all over the place and is sparking 5 time to one stroke, thank-you for that info I may ring them anyway

Peter

[slomax]

Hi Peter,
Can't really help you on your quest i'm afraid, what carbs is it running?

There are a lot of PHers in the area of cheshire around south Manchester/Alderly Edge/Knutsford/Macclesfield/Altrincham. I'm determined to get so some PH events this year though as i missed them all last year. caz-manc set a monthly meet up last summer at a pub between Altrincham and Knutsford and the 2 or 3 that were held there were well attended. Everything to daily hacks to heavily modified and exotica turned up for a chin wag and a drive out. It may be worth a trip down to Stoneliegh international kit car show on may bank holiday. You might see a BEC smart there (as your other thread says you are looking), and there will be hundreds of Cobra owners and builders there that i'm sure will be more than happy to help you out!

[[e-mail]]

Thanks for that I would love a meet near Altrincham, I have many friends with interesting cars and they are sick of having to go South for anything, I went to Stonelegh Last year and really enjoyed it, wish we had something local as hundreds......make that thousands of petrolheads around Manchester area would make it a well attended event

Peter

[Sam_68]

Echo Slomax... what carbs and ignition system are you running?

And has the fault just arisen?

It sounds like something pretty basic (like ignition timing wildy out or damp/dodgy plug leads), so even your average mobile Crypton tuner may be able to set you straight, if you don't fancy buying a timing strobe and checking it out yourself?

[Slinky]

[e-mail] said:

Thanks again but it will be too far with car in state it is in, I am worried it will damage the engine if driven the timing is all over the place and is sparking 5 time to one stroke, thank-you for that info I may ring them anyway

Peter

Hence my trailer recommendation..

John knows his stuff and has a chassis dyne on site..

[[e-mail]]

It has Holly with MSD ignition, my local crypton man told me it is sparking 5 times to one stroke and needs a print out to send to engine builders.....

[[e-mail]]

I don't have towing facility but will bare that in mind.....thanks

[Yazza54]

There's quite a lot of drives out in the north, but the events all tend to be more down south. You wont be alone in being roofless and cold if I'm out too!

[[e-mail]]

Thanks Ryan!!

[Sam_68]

[e-mail] said:

It has Holly with MSD ignition, my local crypton man told me it is sparking 5 times to one stroke and needs a print out to send to engine builders.....

Sparking 5 times to every 2 crank revolutions (ie. every 4-stroke cycle, where it should be sparking 8 times, one for each cylinder), you mean?

Sounds like you have your answer? The MSD ignition unit, or more likely the signal it is getting to control the spark, is FUBAR?

Edited to add link to MSD troubleshooting HERE and to say you might get more helpful advice in the 'engines and drivetrain' forum here on PistonHeads... I'm a suspension man, primarily...

Edited by Sam_68 on Sunday 2nd January 20:21

[[e-mail]]

Hi Sam.....Fubar?? hence me needing an eletician I think you are right in your assumption re ignition system....beyond me though

[Sam_68]

[e-mail] said:

Hi Sam.....Fubar??

Sorry; technical term: fked Up Beyond All Recognition.

If it is the MSD, then it's pretty basic stuff to check. To be honest, it's a sad indictment of your Crypton tuning guy that he couldn't diagnose it properly. My money would be on the pickup (or wiring connections thereto) that sends a signal to the MSD unit telling it how fast the engine is turning that's a bit flaky, but suggest you (or your friendly local auto electrician) reads the troubleshooting and/or speaks directly to MSD in the first instance.

[[e-mail]]

Hey Sam..... that link to MSD ignitions.....Fantastic....many thanks

[Yazza54]

Isn't that how the MSD works though? They pulse the spark to achieve a clean burn. Sounds like the prob is with the setting up of the MSD? Also like already mentioned, has it just started happening or has it always run rough?

[slomax]

[e-mail] said:

FUBAR

fked Up Beyond All Recognition

Sounds like your coil is fine but your electronic ignition unit is royally buggered. Can they just have a software change on them? With points you can do it yourself without much outlay. If anything electronic goes you're stuffed. I don't think i'd be driving it at all in that state. My electronic ignition has an LED on the front of it to show you when it sparks, only having 2 cylinders though makes life very easy.

Get yourself over to the North West section of the forum to have a look at local goings on and planned runs out.

[[e-mail]]

It started recently....backfires on acceleration on one cylinder sounds uneven and runs on when switched off