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383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? #1475778
07/29/13 09:12 AM
07/29/13 09:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 84
Norway
cudaerik Offline OP
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cudaerik  Offline OP
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Got a 383cid that is only running on cylinder number 3, 5, 2, 8.
Every once in a while it shoots trough carb an it run on all eight like normal for a while.(a while sice it have done it now)
I got spark on all plugs and the fuel level in carb is normal.

Following have been checked/replaced.

- Spark plugs/wires
- distributor cap and rotor
- coil and ignition box
- valves and lifters
- comp test and leakdown test
- fuel filter/pump

see attached images of the spark plug from cylinder number 2.

Engine is 0,60 over with a stock bottom, edelbrock rpm heads 84cc,lunati voodoo hydrulic camshaft, harland sharp rockes and a mighty demon 750 carb.

Please let me know if you know some more things I should check and look for.

7794051-bilde.JPG (119 downloads)

1970 Plymouth Cuda, 512cid on 230 400 block, 5 speed manual.(TKO 600)
1970 Dodge Charger 500, 446cid, 5speed manual.(TKO 600)
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383cid, 5speed manual (Tremec TKX)



Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475779
07/29/13 09:20 AM
07/29/13 09:20 AM
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North Carolina
cjskotni Offline
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How do you know it's only running on 4 cylinders? I don't see a V8 running at all with only 4 cylinders...maybe 6 at worst. If you think that you have four dead cylinders, pull the plugs from the 'dead' cylinders and see if they are soaked in gas and look way different from what you have in the picture...if they look the same you don't have a dead cylinder.

That spark plug looks extremely lean (whitish color). If your engine is running really rough and popping through the carburetor, my money is on you have a vacuum leak.

Does the motor seem to want to idle really high and run really rough? If so, a vacuum leak would cause that along with that lean condition.

Holler back and let use know and we can help you check for the vacuum leak if that what it looks like it may be!

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475780
07/29/13 09:21 AM
07/29/13 09:21 AM
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Dodgem Offline
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What Kind of distributor sounds like a mallory dual point with one set of points not working??

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: Dodgem] #1475781
07/29/13 09:26 AM
07/29/13 09:26 AM
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zrxkawboy Offline
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What kind of intake? Those cyls would be "fed together" on a dual-plane intake. I would be looking into something carb/intake-related.


It's Swifty! Swifty, you toad sucker!
Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475782
07/29/13 09:31 AM
07/29/13 09:31 AM
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chicagoland,usa
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buildanother Offline
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Dirty carb or big vacuum leak.

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: zrxkawboy] #1475783
07/29/13 09:34 AM
07/29/13 09:34 AM
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Ontario, Canada
Dodgem Offline
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Quote:

What kind of intake? Those cyls would be "fed together" on a dual-plane intake. I would be looking into something carb/intake-related.




I was wondering that too so maybe dirt in the carb only one front side getting gas at idle!

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: Dodgem] #1475784
07/29/13 09:46 AM
07/29/13 09:46 AM
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NEW JERSEY
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dynamite Offline
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Ya got a vacuum leak....

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475785
07/29/13 09:50 AM
07/29/13 09:50 AM
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cudaerik Offline OP
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I have used water on the headers right at the exhaust ports and on the cylinders that is not running the headers are not hot enough to steam of the water from the spray bottle. I also find it strange that the plugs are not wet?
Yeah the engine only want to idle high and it runs bad, where and how should i look for the vacum leak?

the distributor is a mopar electronic with a Magnetic Pickup, Mechanical, Vacuum Advance (brown cap)

intake is edlbrook preformer rpm


1970 Plymouth Cuda, 512cid on 230 400 block, 5 speed manual.(TKO 600)
1970 Dodge Charger 500, 446cid, 5speed manual.(TKO 600)
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383cid, 5speed manual (Tremec TKX)



Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475786
07/29/13 10:04 AM
07/29/13 10:04 AM
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RapidRobert Offline
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I'd pull the intake & use some Permatex gasket cement (#1 in the toothpaste like tube) around each port in the metal valley pan gasket on both sides. A thin/CONSISTANT THICKNESS/NO GAPS layer around each rectangular port opening then reinstall the intake & let it set up/dry. I forgot if you mentioned it but did you check the carb base gasket


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: RapidRobert] #1475787
07/29/13 10:17 AM
07/29/13 10:17 AM
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BRONZEBEE Offline
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I would check the timing chain dots, sounds like you got them off.
Have to look really close with the sprockets with more than one keyway.
What was the cylinder pressure?

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475788
07/29/13 10:19 AM
07/29/13 10:19 AM
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North Carolina
cjskotni Offline
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Quote:

I have used water on the headers right at the exhaust ports and on the cylinders that is not running the headers are not hot enough to steam of the water from the spray bottle. I also find it strange that the plugs are not wet?
Yeah the engine only want to idle high and it runs bad, where and how should i look for the vacum leak?

the distributor is a mopar electronic with a Magnetic Pickup, Mechanical, Vacuum Advance (brown cap)

intake is edlbrook preformer rpm




Two ways I know of to check for a vacuum leak with common tools.

1.) Use a propane torch (unlit) with a piece of rubber tube and run that propane around the intake/carb base (engine running) where you think it might be leaking. If there is a vacuum leak, it will pull in the propane gas and make the engine pick up rev's all the sudden.

2.) Basically do the same thing with carb/choke cleaner by spraying it around the same areas and seeing if the engine revs up.

I will warn you vacuum leaks can be tricky to track down with even these methods sometimes. Mechanics use a device that emits a smokey vapor and they use that to see where it is being sucked into the motor. However, these devices cost hundreds of dollars.

Try these tricks and see if you can't pinpoint it. If you have changed the intake recently, this is probably a vacuum leak. As others have said, it could a very dirty carb where it's not getting fuel at idle BUT that would be easy to test as the issue would disappear once you revved the motor up and got on to the primary circuit.

Cylinders being improperly fed the correct fuel mixture can cause different exhaust port temps. Contrary to popular belief, my experience is that cylinders running rich (or not getting good spark) will actually have very hot exhaust ports (headers glow) where lean conditions can do the opposite. The extra fuel from a rich cylinder actually is getting ignited right outside the cylinder in the exhaust port!

This sounds like a air/fuel issue to me. It is very unlikely your ignition would hit on 4 of 8 cylinders and do this consistently.

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475789
07/29/13 10:53 AM
07/29/13 10:53 AM
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cudaerik Offline OP
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thanks a lot for good advice....from the beginning I did not say that I had check with propane for vacum leaks....i have done that around the carb flange and the intake ports with no result. if the carb is dirty where should i look for dirt? i have check float bowls and main jets and squirters.


1970 Plymouth Cuda, 512cid on 230 400 block, 5 speed manual.(TKO 600)
1970 Dodge Charger 500, 446cid, 5speed manual.(TKO 600)
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383cid, 5speed manual (Tremec TKX)



Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475790
07/29/13 10:57 AM
07/29/13 10:57 AM
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vdriver Offline
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I had the EXACT same issue on an old 318 2 barrel many years ago. Turns out the idle circuit on one side of the carb was plugged with dirt. It wasn't flowing any fuel to the cylinders feed by that side of the dual plane intake.

Check that before doing any major teardowns...

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: vdriver] #1475791
07/29/13 11:14 AM
07/29/13 11:14 AM
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Leucadia, Ca.
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vdriver Offline
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Note the relationship on 2 & 8, 3 & 5..

7794175-1461000.jpg (109 downloads)
Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: vdriver] #1475792
07/29/13 11:24 AM
07/29/13 11:24 AM
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Norway
cudaerik Offline OP
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sounds interesting....could you please give me a crash course on cleaning the carb? where on the carb do I find the idle circet?


1970 Plymouth Cuda, 512cid on 230 400 block, 5 speed manual.(TKO 600)
1970 Dodge Charger 500, 446cid, 5speed manual.(TKO 600)
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383cid, 5speed manual (Tremec TKX)



Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475793
07/29/13 11:30 AM
07/29/13 11:30 AM
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JohnRR Offline
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Quote:

How do you know it's only running on 4 cylinders? I don't see a V8 running at all with only 4 cylinders...maybe 6 at worst.




A V8 certianly would only run a 4 , A friend did it with a 396 many , many years ago , he actually drove the car up a steep incline , commented on how bad it was running , open the hood and 4 wires on the right bank are laying on top of the air cleaner ... .

this looks like a carb problem , Carb cleaner and compressed air to clean out passages .

how old is the carb that is being used ?

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cudaerik] #1475794
07/29/13 11:31 AM
07/29/13 11:31 AM
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North Carolina
cjskotni Offline
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Quote:

sounds interesting....could you please give me a crash course on cleaning the carb? where on the carb do I find the idle circet?




Yes one of the idle circuits being clogged could cause this. I am no expert but I would think if you take out the idle adjustment screw on the side in question (drivers) and blow it out with compressed air/carb cleaner really well. Make sure you count how many turns it took to get the screw out.

A better way is to count the turns the bottom out the screw and then use that as a reference when you replace it after the cleaning.

Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475795
07/29/13 11:45 AM
07/29/13 11:45 AM
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Norway
cudaerik Offline OP
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i guess i need to take of the carb? the carb is a mighty demon 750cfm from 2005....it's been poping and shooting a lot over the years....once i even had a fire in it. maybbe that could have clogged it up?


1970 Plymouth Cuda, 512cid on 230 400 block, 5 speed manual.(TKO 600)
1970 Dodge Charger 500, 446cid, 5speed manual.(TKO 600)
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383cid, 5speed manual (Tremec TKX)



Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: cjskotni] #1475796
07/29/13 11:51 AM
07/29/13 11:51 AM
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RapidRobert Offline
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turn the idle mixture screws in to where they are lightly seated & count the # of turns to get there so you can easily return them to their original position when done. then take em out & fit one of those thin red straws to the nozzle on a can of starting fluid by enlarging the nozzle slightly as starting fluid cans do not come with those straws. Shoot a healthy 2 or 3 second blast into each hole with the straw then replace the screws & start her up & see what you get.


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 383 cid only running on 4 cylinders, please help? [Re: RapidRobert] #1475797
07/29/13 11:59 AM
07/29/13 11:59 AM
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GTX MATT Offline
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Carb issue, try another carb and see if it goes away (i.e. with a Demon carb you've probably got metal/aluminum shavings in a passage somewhere)


Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat
Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street
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