What are you using for spark plugs and distributor cap?

[Deleted User]

Hey guys......
So I want to do a tune on my my 46 Commodore 8 since:
a) it starts well but doesn't want to STAY running, and
b) the guy I bought it from said "it really needs a tune up"

So what are you guys using for spark plugs and the distributor cap & rotor? Anything that works better than others?

Browniepetersen

I took the cowards way out with my 54. I bought an electronic ignition system from Dr. Doug.
The original spark plugs are out of stock--you can sometimes find an old collector that has some. Most of the NAPA and discount auto stores list the 12 as one that will work. As I remember Dr. Doug has a few of the original plugs around as well. My other Hudson's have the original style plugs in them. I expect to pick up a few more at the National this summer.

[Deleted User]

I mainly want to replace the plugs and distributor cap/rotor to see if that's the reason it doesn't want to stay running. Ive been checking autozone and places like that but they don't list any plugs as being compatible with the Hudson

hudsn47

Might try Rock Auto online if you haven't already. They show points/condensor and plugs for your car. I don's see the distributor cap. I know the tune up parts are available at NAPA.

Geoff

You need to get a bit deeper then just plugs and dist cap if it "Starts but doesn't stay running" as you say. It could just be the condensor, but it could also be the fuel pump, coil, or other things. Plugs surely are not a problem to obtain are they? Champion J8 should work fine.

Jon B

So, it runs very well when you first starts, but at some point it begins to run unevenly, then poops out? If so, how soon does it begin to run badly? Is it when it warms up, maybe?

If the plugs or points were bad, it seems to me, it wouldn't run very well, EVER.

Have you tried changing the condenser? Those are a quick fix, and they're often the culprit.

[Deleted User]

I have not changed the condenser, or anything else yet. This symptom just started happening yesterday. I'll give you a run down of the symptoms:
after I put the fuel tank back in and started it up the first time (3 weeks ago) it ran well (meaning started up, idled, didn't crap out). I've started it up a couple times since then and it started easily and idled fine.
Yesterday it was a little harder to start than usual. It would start okay, but then after it would get into to what I call "idling mode" it would suddenly die, even if I gave it gas I couldn't keep it going. I had a different car I had to work on so I stopped with the Hudson for the day.
I thought back to 6 weeks ago when I got the car how the owner said "it definitely needs a tune up". Now I'm thinking perhaps the condenser, but i know the tank was boiled and re-sealed and I put new fuel lines in so I'd be surprised if the filter is clogged. But perhaps I just flooded it yesterday. I'll be out at the shop again tomorrow night and see what it does.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like the choke may just need to be adjusted .May want to take the service manual and make all the adjustments on the carb and choke.
Roger

hudsontech

J-8's are available - got one in my lawn mower!!!!

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

charles4d

Try some carb. cleaner cant hurt

TwinH

I'd check the points.

[Deleted User]

i did spray down the carb i have to do that every time i start it anyway. I'm going to change the plugs and the condenser tonight/tomorrow and see how that goes. Found the plugs & condenser @ NAPA

[Deleted User]

If you have to spray something in the carb you have a fuel issue not ignition. Last time I heard NAPA didn't sell both sides of the points . Only the arm not the contact button ,what did they sell you ?
Roger

[Deleted User]

It sounds to me like the carb is gummed.

Allan

Park_W

How old is the gas in that tank?

drivergo2

Look at the exhaust man. flap. make sure its opening, when warm. John

[Deleted User]

Well i didnt get a chance to get anything worked on the Hudson yesterday other than test start it. It seems to just be running off the carb cleaner i squirt on the carb....once that's used up or i let off the gas it dies out.
Gas in the tank is about 3 weeks old, I pulled the tank boiled it resealed it and put it back in along with new lines. What's odd is like is aid the first few times i started it after putting the new tank it in fired right up and idled nicely.....now....starts the same but dies off right away or if I let off the gas pedal. I haven't made any adjustments to the carb, choke, or anything else. This leads me to believe that
a) its not the plugs or it wouldn't have run well the first few times i started it
b) its probably not a carb adjustment since it ran well the first few times
c) the previous owner installed an in-line fuel filter (not stock) and I'm going to replace that and see what the results are.

What do you guys think? I was hoping to get this out to its first car show tomorrow (

[Deleted User]

Given this new info I think I would remove the fuel line from the carb and place it in a jar. May need to add a hose to get that done . And crank engine over a little and see if the fuel pump fills the jar. I suspect it will not ,or just be a trickle of fuel. This will indicate a filter ,pump or clogged line issue,
Roger

Club Coupe

I had a similar problem years ago and it turned out that I had a pin hole in the fuel line. You can check the line by using Roger's method except put the jar (or gas can) before the fuel pump and hook the carburetor line back up. If it starts and runs you may have a pin hole in the fuel line somewhere and it is sucking air causing it to stall. You might check your vacuum lines for leaks too. That could also be a cause of the problem, but my money is on the fuel line hole.

Henk_Brough

The BROUGH and RAILTON Club has as advise to use NGK B6HS plugs in all the 6 and 8 cylinders.
I try them myself and indeed they are good.

[Deleted User]

Got this working. After taking out both fuel filters (yes I have two, one in the back just after the fuel tank and one up near the carb) and finding nothing, no contamination, no leaks, etc. I started adjusting this idle mixture screws by first putting them all the way in and then slowly turning them out and testing with each adjustment. After about 15 minutes of this, I got the mixture right. The weird thing is, I never touched the idle adjustment screws previously, but the car seems fine now.

Val

Champion J8 plugs as well as cap and rotor are available. I bought them at Napa.

[Deleted User]

They can get clogged from sitting . Screwing them in all the way may have cleared the passage.
Roger

[Deleted User]

that's what it sounds like happened Roger. Its running fine now!