[WPTA] Help Needed Part II

[Kevin Dadey]

Hello again,
Well, nothing is as simple as it seems, I guess. I wanted to give you guys an update on my 1976 Spitfire with ignition problems. Since the last email here's what's happening.I swapped out the wrong coil with the 3.0 ohm resistance with a Lucas 1.5 resistance coil and reconnected the pink and white ballast/resistance/run wire.That helped a lot. The car started although needed coaxed into an idle consistent enough for me to adjust the idle to around 1K RPMS. I made a very minor adjustment to the timing and thought the idle was rather steady and not surging and dropping as it was before. So I took it for a drive around the block. I could tell immediately that it was struggling in first gear and second. Nervous about getting stuck somewhere I headed home having only driven about 100 yards. The car just seemed hesitant to go as I carefully drove it back to the garage. At one point it backfired very loudly, nearly scaring two passersby to death. Started me as well. It felt like it wanted to stall again, but I made it back to the garage. What's going on with a car that idles well but won't run well?
Here's a list of new parts and other info:
Compression test - 140 - 150 in all cylindersNew (Replaced within the last 4 weeks), parts:- Distributor Cap and Rotor- Spark Plugs - From NGK to Champions- Spark Plug Wires - Sort of expensive set of Cobalt wires- Ignition Coil - Lucas Stock 1.5 Ohm resistance- Entire exhaust system although not part of the problem
Earlier - Rebuilt in March 2019:- Carburetor - Distributor
Car has a Crane XR700 Fireball ignition also.
I'm up for any and all recommendations and assistance.
Much thanks again,
Kevin
Kevin 

Kevin J Dadey
 

    On Monday, August 19, 2019, 12:58:53 PM EDT, Kevin Dadey <kevindadey at yahoo.com> wrote:  
 
 Hello all,
I hope you’re having a great summer. I planned to as well and expected to be attending British Car Days and other club events but my 1976 Spitfire is sidelined again with what seems like ignition problems. 
Here’s the situation. I have a 1976 Spitfire with a Crane XR700 ignition system. The carburetor and distributor were lovingly rebuilt this winter by Bruce. Thanks again Bruce. It seemed fine until earlier this summer, I took it for a short drive and quickly headed back home. The engine was struggling and stuttering while going up a mild incline in 3rd gear. Following the advice of a friend with a TR6, living in South Carolina, I tested disconnected each spark plug wire in sequence to figure out if there was trouble inside the engine. Removing the #4 spark plug wire resulted in no change in the idle. Of course it stuttered badly upon removing #1 - #3 wires. I managed to drive the car to a nearby garage in Carnegie – European Automotive Specialists. They ran a compression test and all four cylinders had between 140 – 150 pounds. The mechanic thought he isolated the problem with the distributor cap or wire to #4. I purchased a new cap, rotor and better set of Cobalt spark plug wires. This did not help. The engine still ran roughly and struggled under load. 
Next, I purchased a new Lucas Sport coil from Victoria British. The ad on the website said to disconnect the ballast/resistance wire so I cut and capped the pink and white wire. Now the car won’t start. I get a few pops but nothing to work with and coax it into running. I will probably reconnect the pink and white wire, but then again, I don’t think it will help. I’ve checked the firing order and it is correct. 
So, I’m waving the white flag and asking if anyone has the time and patience to help me get my car running again?By the way I live in Crafton.
Much thanks, Kevin.  

  
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