Classic/Antique Car Repair: 64 chevy c10 loss of power, 1964 chevy c10, fuel starvation

Question
hey dick,

i have this 1964 chevy c10 pickup with a recently overhauled 283. my problem is power. when i first got the truck it was fast and had good acceleration, but now it has mysteriously lost all of it's power.  

i do have one possibility however: the gas guage typically doesn't work, so i have ran it dry a few times. maybe the gas filter is getting clogged up with junk?

it also started around the time i put a later-model distributor on it. i eleminated the timing after literally test-driving it at every possible position, and still nothing. maybe the later-model distributor is not strong enough?
or perhaps just not right for the truck?

i realize there's probably a wide range of problems that could lead to power reduction, but any of your help will be much appreciated.

thanks a lot,

-Caleb-  

Answer
You need to sort out whether it is fuel starvation or an ignition problem first.  Also, it is possible that there is a restriction in the exhaust system - any of these things will cause a loss of power, but the symptoms are different.  

If it is fuel starvation, the truck will pull normally for a few seconds as you accelerate, then seem to lose power. If that is what is happening, blow out your fuel lines back to the tank (take the cap off!), and put a new fuel filter in the line from the fuel pump to the carburetor.

If it is exhaust restriction, you will find either a rodent nest in the exhaust pipe, or a bend or dent in the pipe, or some other obvious problem.  You might have to take the exhaust pipe loose from the exhaust manifold to see if that makes any difference. It will get VERY LOUD, so don't do this on a Sunday morning!

If it is ignition, the first step is to go back to the orignal setup, the one that was designed by a team of experienced engineers making a high salary and perfected for your engine.  I don't know what you have changed it to, so I can't guess as to what to tell you about that except that the old system worked well for 42 years, it is probably OK for another 42 years!.  Set the point dwell and timing to factory specs and it should run just fine.

If the timing gear/chain hardware was all changed when it was rebuilt, I don't think you need to worry about it having "jumped time", but if that step was skipped, that could be the problem also.  


Beyond that, I have no clue as to what has gone wrong.  You will have to take it to someone with an engine analyzer to learn more about it.

Dick