429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Engine, ignition, fuel, cooling, exhaust

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1971ford
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429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by 1971ford »

I need to get this fixed today/tonight so i can drive it to school tomorrow and not be left in the parking lot without it starting.
And if it makes a difference, this started right after i installed a performer intake.
I feel like i might not be able to give you much info on this because i dont even know WTF is going on.
So yesterday i get in the truck, fire it up. Starts right away. I go to a grociery store, come back out to leave and the truck won't start. It cranks very slowly. So i have my buddy jump me. No worky. My dad comes, we try to jump it again, even to the solenoid. Still cranks very slowly. We notice the battery cable is loose on the starter (the whole peg was loose) so we pull the cable, tighten the peg, put the cable back on and tighten. It now cranks fast!!! (Still no start, turns out there was a second problem being that the msd box's ground wire came loose).

We get it home, i fire it up this morning to bring it into the garage to adjust the timing, and it fires right up. Awesome, problem fixed.... NOT. Just now i went to start it again, and it is doing the VERY slow cranking thing again.

I don't think it is the battery, because i still have full power with headlights and my dads tahoe while running, jumping to my solenoid still did a slow crank.
I think it is either the battery cables or can it be the starter? We made the battery cables, the battery is in the bed. THe cables are welding ground cables, they are huge. We melted the ends onto the cables, maybe they came loose??

Need to fix this problem quick :(


can a starter be replaced without pulling hedman headers?
-Ryan
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BobbyFord
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Re: 429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by BobbyFord »

Sounds like the starter is drawing a lot of amps and needs replacing. Usually worse when hot.
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1971ford
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Re: 429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by 1971ford »

I'm about to go pull it and have it tested
-Ryan
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Re: 429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by BobbyFord »

It may not pull the amps cold (when tested). Just replace it.
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1971ford
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Re: 429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by 1971ford »

True. Becuae it passed with flying colors.

SOoo we bought a new one anyways. Installed it, fires right up! Yay!
However this isn't the first time it has fired right up making us think it is fixed, tomorrow morning will tell for sure. But this sstarter spins way faster and the 429 starts in about 2 seconds unlike the old starter. The old starter has been on the truck sincei got the engine and we haev always had some slow starting problems.... so i think the problem is fixed. I sure hope so.
-Ryan
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HOWDY69
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Re: 429 is having problems, need to fix it tonight!

Post by HOWDY69 »

I hope it fixed the problem. I hate intermittent problems.
69 F250, FE Specialties 410, CJ Valves, RPM Intake, Holley 4150,......10 Smiles per gallon
71 Clydesdale in many pieces; 302 roller motor waiting impatiently
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