60Patrol

Paul, Thank you for your concern. We drove it less than 40 miles in 3-7 mile loops. I drove it about 8 miles today with no new noises and the high low shifter seems smooth. Next week it will get the compression test that BAM charged us for but did not perform...I confirmed that with a call to the owner today...

Recall BAM said they performed the compression test at least 5 times and pronounced the motor in very good shape..which seemed right based on my test drive. Today Rafael felt it needed a total rebuild and may not make it through the much anticipated Big Bend Patrol. All I can say it that it ran very smooth the day I bought it. Since then, it has been much less than that. I don't mind the the rebuild one bit.....unless it means driving only the Chicom on the Big Bend Patrol at the end of February. I don't think I get the parts in to have it rebuilt in a month.

Here might become good news....I spoke with Bob at Carburetors Unlimited in Auburn Washington today (253)-833-4105. I explained that my recently rebuilt Rochester Carb was already leaking again. They guarantee their vintage Rochester Carbs there. Any way, Bob said he could build me a Rochester 7004497-C-1 carb....then i explained the propensity they have for stalling at extreme angles to which he said he could fix that with an "off road" injection modification... without hesitation. I left him with my CC. I think I will get a newly remade carb in about two weeks.

Another high point, Rafael painted my valve cover. Those were the only two silver linings for the day.

Patrolling on prayers,
L60Boerne

Just curious, but what leads Rafael to believe that the engine needs a complete overhaul? How many miles are on the engine? They are usually good up to 80 - 100 thousand miles.

River Patrol, Rafael is a gear/brake specialist. His position was based on the observation from the motor mechanic be brought in to adjust the valves. He said that guy thought the one cylinder was very weak and it just sounds really sick. Rafael said the timing was set at 35 degrees forward and he thought the dragging start was because the timing chain had jumped a tooth.
Personally, I think the problem is with the electronic ignition installation. The results of the compression check will be helpful. It did not have a dragging start before the Petronix addition.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Patrolling in spurts,
L60Boerne

No timimg chain in the P engine. It uses 2 timimg gears. I doubt that they would have slipped a tooth.

Thanks Justin, that makes sense, it points back to a faulty Petronix set up, in my opinion. I really appreciate your help. We have a bunch of well meaning mechanics but they simply don't have any experience to draw upon.
Patrolling with help,
L60Boerne

The timing set at 35 would cause the dragging. It sounds like the distributor drive gear may be one tooth off. They shouldn't have pulled that to install the Pertronix, but they might have.

It's also good to verify that the plug wires are all still in their correct location. It's possible to have a couple swapped that are close in firing-order and still have the engine run "semi" OK.
Mild Bill

Thanks Bill and RiverPatrol your advice most welcome.

L60Boerne wrote:Greeting from a Patroles that has been BAMed,
After a few hours of field trials a few concerning noises surfaced. Recall...BAM was paid.. first and foremost to change all fluids with filters provided. After several hours of operation we checked the fluids and found that Presidio Patrol had no transmission fluid, no fuel filter, vintage oil and a clogged radiator.
We will recover and be stronger for it.
Patrolling towards Paradise,
L60Boerne

What! Thats DIRTY!!

Miracle with Presidio Patrol,

I dropped the Patrol off on Friday with the mechanic that installed the Petronix system. It was back firing, sputtering and almost impossible to start. Today, we started it and it ran like a sewing machine. Regardless, we are replacing all the plugs and running a compression test. My concern is that it It discharges blue smoke from the carb while idling. That must demonstrate that flow is going the wrong way through the motor.

We are reconnecting the choke. The we checked the fuel pump which looks new. It is pumps in pulses. I think it maybe somewhat weak, Ray has been given direction to get a new one that is silent and produces a robust constant flow. Any suggestions?

Lastly, Ray will fabricate a wood and metal camping box to fit over the bed to provide a two level cargo bay and feature bolt on metal "saddle bags" spanning the distance from the doors to the taillights. The "saddle bags" will be wide enough to allow the the insertion of a 50 cal ammo can for storage and/or Jerry Cans. So we can have three Jerry Cans per side or two Jerry Cans and a 50 Cal can for parts and tools.....thereby reserving the interior cargo space for less hardened equipment.

Still Trying to Patrol,
L60Boerne