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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1954 chevy plug fouling

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Expert: Paul Wilczynski - 3/15/2009


Question
HI PAUL, I HAVE A 1954 CHEVY BELAIR 235 6 CYL.IT KEEPS FOULING THE PLUGS ON ALL CYLINDERS,(DRY CARBON FOULED) AND STARTS MISSING SHORTLY AFTER I PUT NEW PLUGS IN.BLACK SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST ONLY WHEN I REV MOTOR. I HAD THE CARB REBUILT, THE HEAD WAS DONE,AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.RECENTLY I JUST DISCOVERED THAT THE VACUUM ADVANCE WASNT WORKING. I REPLACED UNIT ON THE DISTRIBUTOR AND NOW I COULD PHYSICALLY SEE THE DISTRIBUTOR ADVANCE WHEN I OPEN THE THROTTLE. ITS STILL MISSING TERRIBLY, BUT I HAVENT CHANGED THE PLUGS YET.ARE THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM BESIDE VACUUM ADVANCE? THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT

Answer
Vito:

Your engine is running way too rich. This is a carb problem. I'd say get the guy who rebuilt it to check it on the motor. Have him check float level and jetting, and make sure the choke is disengaging when it should. Then be sure the plugs are the right temperature range--you should try a hotter plug, too.

Also, you mention that you had the head "done". If it's had a valve and seal job, and the rings have not been recently been done, beware--there's a chance you could begin pushing oil past the rings (notorious on these motors). If you see signs of blue smoke, you should get the rings done, too. And as long as you're getting the rings done, might as well get rods and mains taken care of...

--Paul

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Paul Wilczynski

Expertise

Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.

Experience

Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself. When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations. I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc. Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.

Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.

Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.

Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).

Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.

Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.

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