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First Drive Obersvations

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by DanStew, May 29, 2017.

  1. May 29, 2017
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Finally getting to take the Jeep around the block. At first it was with a little wonky brakes, now that is sorted out and it stops good. I have noticed a few things about the jeep.

    #1 It really is bumpy ride. Not bumpy suspension wise but it is either way out of balanced for a tire, bubble in tire or rim with too much runout. I noticed the front driver side tire has alot of runout. The tire looks wobbley. I rechecked the spindle nut and the lug nuts. It was a little loose, it is fixed but you can tell that something is not straight. I do need to move the tire over to another side to see if it follows. I am not sure if the wobbly tire would cause such a bounce to it. All tires are inflated properly. They are not balanced, but I am going so slow and the bump is really really noticable. It is the feeling of a tire really flatspotted. The tires are not that old and are radials. I do not think it is alignment, the steering wheel doesnt wobble like it is a steering issue.

    #2 Gas pedal needs some force to it to go. If i feather it, it will want to die, i really have to give it some more oomph to get the jeep going from a stop. I have a dual spring setup for the gas pedal. I may have to swap out to a softer spring.

    #3 I think the jeep needs to be advanced a bit. It seems to bog down and not have much power at higher rpms. Is this an advance or retard issue with the distributer?

    Any other ideas on how to remedy or check for these issues?
     
  2. May 29, 2017
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    I had a similar issue with a wobbly wheel- turned out to be a bent hub.

    Allowable wheel runout?

    Beyond that I suspect with that sort of bounce you have a bad tire.

    H.
     
  3. May 29, 2017
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,367
    They're radials so jack it up and slowly rotate the tire, see if it has any kind of bulge in it. First thought is you need to advance the timing a bit.
     
  4. May 29, 2017
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    Is it clockwise or counter for advance on the Lhead?
     
  5. May 29, 2017
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,367
    Distributor turns counter clockwise.
     
    DanStew likes this.
  6. May 29, 2017
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
    Hard accelerator return springs will feel just like a severe lack of HP. Try a lighter spring before you goof around with the engine.

    As for advance/retard, why not just time it properly to FSM spec.? A simple timing light will show if the advance is working.

    Try jacking each wheel and rotating it… a wheel may be bent. I had one wrecked by the bead-breaker on a mishandled tire-changing machine.
    Although your "bump" sounds more like a separated tread.
     
  7. May 30, 2017
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Well I checked the wheels. They are fine. I was able to swap the two front wheels and the wobble stayed on that front driver side wheel. So i am guessing i have a bent bearing hub. So i will need to source another. I never have had that before. I also had to adjust one of the rear brakes because it has a real tight spot and that also might have contributed to the wobble.

    I did not mess with the timing, i will try the lighter spring. I also noticed that i am pressing down on the gas pedal close to the bottom pivot, so it may be an easy fix by just using more of the gas pedal to give the engine fuel.
     
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