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Technical 52 flat head stalls when going from dead stop

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by SGates, Aug 14, 2015.

  1. SGates
    Joined: Jul 22, 2015
    Posts: 17

    SGates

    Fixed a few things here and there however, when accelerating from a dead stop it tends to bog down and 9 times out of 10 completely dies. I've learned to get around it by holding my foot on the break and giving it some gas to raise the rpm's then just feathering out of it like I would if it was a manual going into first. The previous owner said he tried to figure it out, even went through the carburetor and that didn't seem to be where the issue was. ( he also mentioned his mechanic skills were sub-par) to me it seems to be some sort of a fuel problem but I know less than the last guy. It will idle just fine but as soon as you touch the gas down it goes.
     
  2. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    Do's your accelerator pump squirt fuel? Gary
     
  3. ^^^ This.

    Remove air cleaner with engine off. Look down throat of carb and open throttle by hand. As soon as the throttle begins to open you should see a small stream of fuel spray into the throttle bore. If things are out of adjustment it may not begin spraying until the throttle is half way open, which is too late to do any good. Or it may not be working at all... :oops:
     
  4. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Another line of inquiry...you need some ignition advance as engine comes off idle and goes to work. This is going to be hard to observe directly (best way would be to give your wife a timing light and duct-tape her to the fender, which might generate more problems than it would dignose).
    To test that, mark your distributor so you can get back to your starting point easily. Then advance it somewhere in the 5-10 degree area by guess or by timing light and drive test it briefly. If this does good, problem can then be properly diagnosed and fixed.
    On the gas side...after test above, see if you can rig a temporary manual choke by attaching a length of wire and running it into car. Go through the stumble zone over and over, pulling the choke wire out a bit more each time, and see if this crude enrichment does anything for you...again, leading to proper diagnosis and repair.
    Your question implies qutomatic trans...is that right?
     

  5. luckythirteenagogo
    Joined: Dec 28, 2012
    Posts: 1,269

    luckythirteenagogo
    Member
    from Selma, NC

    I know this should go without saying, but have you checked the fuel filter? If that's clogged it'll idle, but will bog down and die when you try to get going.
     
  6. A little vacuum leak will kill your power too but still idle and sometimes drive OK.
     
  7. SGates
    Joined: Jul 22, 2015
    Posts: 17

    SGates

    Yes it is an automatic trans. And I'll do more investigating this weekend to see if I can narrow things down a bit more.
     
  8. prpmmp
    Joined: Dec 12, 2011
    Posts: 1,129

    prpmmp
    Member

    Bruce! I did that with my wife except I don't have fenders:eek:! Boy was she Pissed:):)! Pete
     
  9. keyster
    Joined: Dec 27, 2011
    Posts: 26

    keyster
    Member

    Is your coil wired backwards?
    I heard somewhere they will work, but very weakly when backwards.

    Try a different coil, I have seen them fail and act like a fuel problem.
     
  10. SGates
    Joined: Jul 22, 2015
    Posts: 17

    SGates

    It took me A little longer than I thought to do a bit of investigation. The fuel pump is fine. We did have to replace the battery this weekend which I know has nothing to do with this however I did notice a decent size transmission leak. Now I'm going to risk sounding like a complete idiot here but where in the hell is the dipstick to check The transmission fluid. It is a three speed automatic (merc-o-matic)
     
  11. 59ab
    Joined: Feb 19, 2009
    Posts: 221

    59ab
    Member

    The 52 transmission is checked by opening a small panel in the floor pan. There is a knob with a short dip stick on it.
    1953 was the first year for the dip stick to be under the hood. Hope this helps.
    Eddie
     
  12. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,264

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

    Sounds like you have an 8ba engine. If you are running the original distributor chances are very high your advance is sub par or totally inoperable. Those distributors are junk and must be given the naval flotation test.
     

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