Can I get an eduation on the 84 Town car.

[over2tonsofFun]

counter clockwise.

Tim

[gadget73]

check to see if the timing is anywhere close before you get too far down the rabbithole. A timing light will tell you. If its close, the chain didn't jump. If the light won't fire, you've got no spark and thats why it won't run. Usually when the chain jumps, it smashes valves so hope thats not what happened. Once you have it running, change the chain just to make sure you don't have to replace the heads.

I think I've got a Cloyes set on my car. Wasn't particularly expensive. Nothing fancy, just a stock replacement chain for an 88 Mark VII, or maybe I got it for a Mustang.

[over2tonsofFun]

Went out to the car today. No luck with the timing light, no fire. I did check and I am getting voltage on both sides of the coil and to the red w/blue wire on the TFE module. Rotor looks good and rotates when cranking. So looks like ignition problems. I know the plug wires are good as they are only about a year old . Ford racing (MSD)9mm taken off my wife's 89 TC.

Tim

[gadget73]

a test light across the coil should show it blinking when cranking. If you have power to both sides, the ground side is not switching in and out like it should to make spark. make sure its got power when cranking too. the CFI cars feed ignition power while cranking from the I terminal on the starter relay. if thats off, it won't start but will show power to the coil with the key on. you'll see it as no power to the coil while the engine is cranking.

beyond that, its a TFI module or the pickup. Not much else in there.

[over2tonsofFun]

Any way to check the TFI module or the pick up short of replacing them?

Tim

[gadget73]

you might be able to ohm out the pickup, but I don't know what the values should be. The TFI you might be able to get tested at a parts store, but it may not be a really accurate test. Usually I've just swapped known working used parts on for diagnostic purposes. The pickup itself is something of a bitch to swap, so I swap a whole distributor to test that if I have one available.

[over2tonsofFun]

Again able to get out to the car, put in a new ignition module. Still no fire. Checked the coil with a test light. I get voltage while cranking one side and flashing on the dist side. I wonder if it could be the coil?
I hate throwing money at this car trying to get it running but hell It only cost $200. So a few bucks getting it running ain't going to kill us.

Tim

[gadget73]

If the test light flashes while cranking, and you get no spark out of the coil, you have a bad coil. If you have spark to the distributor but not at the plug, you've got bad wires or a bad rotor.

[over2tonsofFun]

Well I know it isn't the wires as they are about 6 months old came off my wife's 89 Town car. the rotor seems OK but they don't cost that much so I will replace it anyway.

Tim

[sly]

never trust that anything "new" still works. You may be chasing your tail with the problem when the "new" item is actually the problem.

[over2tonsofFun]

IT LIVES. picked up a coil, cap, & rotor on Wednesday. Installed them, cranked about 5-6 time and fired up. runs smooth. Now just needs more gas, then get the taxes and tags taken care of and bring it home. Then the fun begins tracking down the start wire problem. ( jumping the relay with a wire now) other than that everything works, even the sunroof. This car is loaded. Will post up pictures when I get it home.

Question: Is the 302 in the 84 a Lo-po motor like the later panthers where???

Thanks for all the help.

Tim

[pantera77]

Question: Is the 302 in the 84 a Lo-po motor like the later panthers where???

Yes, but significantly worse.

[over2tonsofFun]

Yes, but significantly worse.

Can I get enlightened??? LOL

[gadget73]

its more of a no-po. The heads are worse, the CFI system feeds it more poorly, and it has this plastic gear on the cam that lets the chain jump and destroy the motor. I think you're looking at 140 hp instead of 160 like the multiport motors were, and noticeably less torque. When running correctly, they are very miserly on fuel on the highway but they have no pep in their step.

[over2tonsofFun]

OK, wow. Looks like I need to plan either a rebuild or a swap. So is it a candidate for a top end swap, cam maybe and timing chain. Am I limited on cams like the lo-po fuelie motor. But It should keep the wife happy for a bit.

Tim