Help! My truck won't run!
Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 5:51 pm
Hi everyone!
I have gotten myself into a bit of a pickle and was hoping you might be able to help me out. I am something of a novice at this. I used to drive these trucks back in the olden days when I was in the militia, and have wanted to own one for some time.
I have a 1952 M37 (CDN) which I bought last fall (and not yet registered, although the 1954 M37 (CDN) that I bought before that IS registered, and it starts and runs just fine) and it wont run!
The entire fuel system has been inspected and cleaned.
The truck is still very difficult to start and if it does, it runs very rough with some really loud backfires. It will not idle. The exhaust is sooty. It backfires through the carb on acceleration. It will not go any faster than 30 MPH. It stalls and will not re-start for 1/2 hour - if at all. It has left me stranded almost every time I have taken it out. I was on a first name basis with my Emergency Roadside Assistance tow truck driver. That was last fall.
Today, I pulled all the plugs, cleaned them, gaped to 30 and re-installed.I rotated the engine until I had it at TDC on #1 cylinder. I removed the distributor cap and discovered that the rotor was pointing to the 5 o'clock position, which is where the #1 wire was positioned. I was surprised by this because I had expected the rotor to be pointing to the 7 o'clock position (and the #1 wire to be installed in the 7 o'clock position).
All the other wires are installed in accordance with the correct firing order. #5 is at 7 o'clock, #3 is at 9 o'clock, #6 is at 11 o'clock, #2 is at 1 o'clock and #4 is at 3 o'clock.
My plan was to confirm that the rotor was pointing to 7 o'clock and then pull the oil pump and re-install, ensuring that it was on the correct "tooth".
Can I still do that?
(Also, the gas cap is not on too tight, the gas is new and has stabilizer in it, it has a new fuel filter and a re-built fuel pump from VPW, the carb has been disassembled and cleaned, the batteries are recent and fully charged.)
Am I on the right track to fix the problem?
Your advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.
Bernie
I have gotten myself into a bit of a pickle and was hoping you might be able to help me out. I am something of a novice at this. I used to drive these trucks back in the olden days when I was in the militia, and have wanted to own one for some time.
I have a 1952 M37 (CDN) which I bought last fall (and not yet registered, although the 1954 M37 (CDN) that I bought before that IS registered, and it starts and runs just fine) and it wont run!
The entire fuel system has been inspected and cleaned.
The truck is still very difficult to start and if it does, it runs very rough with some really loud backfires. It will not idle. The exhaust is sooty. It backfires through the carb on acceleration. It will not go any faster than 30 MPH. It stalls and will not re-start for 1/2 hour - if at all. It has left me stranded almost every time I have taken it out. I was on a first name basis with my Emergency Roadside Assistance tow truck driver. That was last fall.
Today, I pulled all the plugs, cleaned them, gaped to 30 and re-installed.I rotated the engine until I had it at TDC on #1 cylinder. I removed the distributor cap and discovered that the rotor was pointing to the 5 o'clock position, which is where the #1 wire was positioned. I was surprised by this because I had expected the rotor to be pointing to the 7 o'clock position (and the #1 wire to be installed in the 7 o'clock position).
All the other wires are installed in accordance with the correct firing order. #5 is at 7 o'clock, #3 is at 9 o'clock, #6 is at 11 o'clock, #2 is at 1 o'clock and #4 is at 3 o'clock.
My plan was to confirm that the rotor was pointing to 7 o'clock and then pull the oil pump and re-install, ensuring that it was on the correct "tooth".
Can I still do that?
(Also, the gas cap is not on too tight, the gas is new and has stabilizer in it, it has a new fuel filter and a re-built fuel pump from VPW, the carb has been disassembled and cleaned, the batteries are recent and fully charged.)
Am I on the right track to fix the problem?
Your advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.
Bernie