Pinto 2.0 Efi misfire under load

[BenGray]

Hi all, help!

so I’ve got a 2b running a 2.0 Pinto (205) Efi engine.

it did seem to run ok, but boiled a lot. So I have replaced the rad with a nice shiny cooler one.

problem is, since then it refuses to run properly.

took it for a brief run on Monday, let idle up to temp before I started. It ran fine for a couple of minutes, then appeared to have a loss of power in 4th and 5th.

Eventually ground to a halt on me engine would turn on the starter, it’d catch, but then sound like it wasn’t getting fuel.

Put some more petrol (in case it was the gauge and I was out) but it just wouldn’t run.

eventually sound the distributor cap appeared lose and had moved. Related cap. Got it to start, but hunting horrible and terrible (read undriveable)misfire under any load, and hunting like mad at idle.

swapped the idle air valve for a new one that I had, made it even worse.

unplugged the idle air valve and wound in the throttle stop adjuster to give it some more fuel, and it seemed to run find at a standstill, revved cleanly on the throttle.

swaped back for my old (now cleaned and lubed) idle air valve, wound out the throttle idle adjuster screw, and hey presto, seemed to run again, then tried to actually drive it, got about 300 yards before hideous misfire (including spitting back through injector body)

I am now at a complete loss, and my pet mechanic (father in law works on busses and out farm equipment) can’t work out what’s causing it (then again he’s yet to experience the issue under load, as he hasn’t actually been in the car)

anyone got any idea what to look at next, any common things to be looking for?

sorry to sound terminally stupid, but you see, I am.

thanks, and sorry for the novel!

[IanS]

Overheating due to airlock in cylinder head??

[BenGray]

 Don’t think it, but at the point I’m at a loss. Header tank and rad are both well above te top of the block. How would you sort that?

Thanks for the idea

[richyb66]

Ignition timing.

[BenGray]

The distributor cap did seem to be out of position when I checked it, but how do I go about making sure it’s where it should be? I’m a bit of a numpty that’s trying to learn as i go

[richyb66]

The distributor body has a notch in the top and the cap has a location feature that fits in it.

The two spring clips that hold the cap on should engage with the same amount of effort. If one is more difficult, the cap isn't on correctly.

[BenGray]

Thanks richyb66, I’ll have a look.

I’ve read that the ignition timing can be/should be advanced by about 10deg, (I can’t even think where, and I might be wrong) is that something you alter at the dizzy cap (told you I was dim)

[richyb66]

No, you need to release the distributor clamp bolt and rotate the distributor in the engine block to adjust the ignition timing.

You need a timing light to set the timing to the correct figure.