OMG HGF?? Sickly Volvo.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Replaced distributor cap, rotor arm and points on the 164 last week, set the dwell angle, all with the kindly assistance of my old school mechanic friend. However it just didn't run right. Usually it idles smoothly and apart from the flap of the viscous fan very quietly. There was a slight 'put put' coming from cylinder No.1.

Took the Swede out to a show on Sunday and she was hesitant at low revs, fine at speed though.

However when I got back home she was rather gutless and getting hot though not boiling over.

Opened the bonnet and sounded like a tractor at idle but much better when revved. Thankfully no obvious oil in the coolant or Hellmans deposits so I felt better, putting my hand over the exhaust did seem to be pushing out a fair bit of water though.

So I'm thinking it's either the beginnings of HGF or the manifold is leaking air into the intake making her sound awful and run hot. Or maybe the manifold is leaking between exhaust and intake?

Any thoughts gents?

[Richard]

The initial checks are to see if it's blowing bubbles into the coolant and see if that spark plug is cleaner than the rest.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Yep, spark plug No.1 might be burnt- will check tonight! My theoretical abilities with cars are good, practical...less so.

[3VOM]

I would check the things you changed first.

 

Did you check the timing when doing the points?

 

Ben

What he said plus (and it's been decades since I check points on anything) I think you do the points first then the timing but if someone wants to correct me that's OK.

[twosmoke300]

Manifold air leak or vac pipe been left off / disturbed

[Uncle Jimmy]

99% sure it's a manifold air leak. All the vacuum pipes are fine, I've isolated them and it's made no difference. Will be a good opportunity to tidy up the engine bay and maybe get the carbs cleaned up.

[Junkman]

What he said plus (and it's been decades since I check points on anything) I think you do the points first then the timing but if someone wants to correct me that's OK.

 

Yes, point gap, dwell and timing.

In that order.

And my guess is that the timing is out, that's all.

 

However.

 

1. I miss the plug leads and plugs in the list of things changed.

 

2. New replacement ignition components for old cars are total rubbish.

 

Because of 2. I buy my ignition parts NOS at auto jumbles.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Replaced leads too recently.

I don't bother with the Intermotor type crap; I got a heap of old stock Bosch bits from Murica, cheaper and better even with the postage!

Checked compression last night; 120-140 psi cold which is good I'd say.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Plugs changed not long ago too; all looked good, nothing 'burnt looking'.

The timing was way too retarded, reset it 10° although the idle is way too high now, about 1200rpm. When retarded back to 6-800 (as Haynes states) it sounds crappy though. Drives very well with ignition advanced though; I guess the air leak becomes irrelevant at higher revs.

Putting a fuel pipe to my ear and waving it around the underside of the intake there is a noticeable increase in volume of the 'farting' around No.1 intake. The nuts on the manifold weren't exactly tight neither- did tighten them but no difference.