66 390 hp with K19 hard starting

[Gary P.]

My 66 427/390 K19 now starts hard (hot or cold) after installing a new set of plug wires and a breakerless ignition kit from Lectric Limited. Once it starts it seems to run ok but I havent put much time on it so far. The correct 3606 carb is newly rebuilt/restored and the cap, rotor, and plugs are new. Have not checked the timing but distributor was not moved during the recent work. It takes several trys of the motor turning over for 5-10 seconds before it finally fires. A couple of times it has backfired through the carb and once through the tailpipe before firing. I did notice that after I had the carb gone through a few months back that it's harder to start when its hot but nothing like this. Have also had some problems with the motor missing after it gets good and hot but I havent been able to confirm if that problem still exists with the new wires and ignition.

[Duke W.]

Re: 66 390 hp with K19 hard starting

Check and correct your timing for starters. Would you install a new set of points and not check the timing? Chances are installation of an electronic conversion will change the timing by a signficant amount.

Duke

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 390 hp with K19 hard starting

Gary,

Duke is correct in the fact that the timing will be changed when the module replaces the points.

Also, check the wires and make sure you have not swapped one.

Just last evening I installed a MSD6AL and put on the ignition shielding for my 66 BB. Guess what? It had the same symptoms that you described. Was getting ready to go back to regular ignition and noticed that I had crossed number 3 and number five at the distributor cap.

After getting the wires back on correctly, I timed the BB and it runs great.

Regards,

JR

[Gary P.]

Re: 66 390 hp with K19 hard starting

I set the timing last night, (it was out, dont know why I didn't do that in the first place!!!) and it seemed to correct the hard start problem at least for last night... Went for a 10-15 mile ride around town and down the freeway and she ran flawlesly. The only thing I wasn't sure of was if the seconadaries were kicking in as they should. But I was feeling really good by this time until I was 2 light from home and suddenly got a big backfire through the carb starting out from the light. Fortunaltly the motor recovered and I got home ok. This evening the motor didn't want to fire again. Another backfire through the carb. Had to crank for a while before it finally caught. Have checked and rechecked the wires but I'll look again. Will recheck the tinming as well. Unfortunatly I'm out of town for a couple of days so it will have to wait until I get back.

[Jim T.]

Re: 66 390 hp with K19 hard starting

Gary with all the backfiring through the carb you have mentioned, your Holley's power valve is most likely ruptured. You can do a quick test if it will start. Put your finger over the fuel bowl verical vent tube. If it kills the engine in a few seconds your power valve needs replacement.