TR plug wires

JRV: While the engine ran ver

JRV: While the engine ran very smooth, I went for an 80 mile cruise. When I came back I did some tests.

Tests with the spark plug wire tester revealed that plugs 1-12, with the exception of #3, showed a normal value of between 8K-14K Volts needed to fire the plug......#3 was between 20K-30K Volts.

Prior to replacing plugs, and cleaning distributor contact points, etc., the HC was 380 on the left, and 573 on the right.

Tonight the readings where:

HC Right = 750; Left = 279
CO Right = 0.93; Left = 0.69
CO2 Right = 12.9; Left = 14.3

Obviously something is wrong on the right side.....same side as the #3 plug.

I will order new plug wires, distributor caps, and rotors, from Rutlands.

I will then do the tests again.

What do you think of the above readings? I know that the fuel balance may still be off, but I feel that the ignition should be corrected first.

Thanks

Hello Henry,

re. right side

Hello Henry,

re. right side
Looking at the CO/HC/Co2 = sounds like you have an air/fuel imbalance on the right side or misfire. One bad wire (mis fire) may cause this. Your HC's are through the roof. More than likely a cylinder misfire (improper combustion), maybe that no. 3 wire you're talking about.

re. left side
the left side may just be a tad lean (again, a mixture tweak)
or, again, you could have an ignition mis fire, just not as bad as the right side
or, you could have an air leak (false air)

Either way you gotta get the ignition squared away before you tweak CO. But it sounds like once you do get the ignition cleaned up, a mixture tweak would be your next goal (I think anyways)

Are the readings you're posting "post cat" or "pre cat". I'm assuming pre-cat. (I'm hoping pre-cat ! )

If you're still running that TR on original wires... shame on you (sorry, i had to say that) (wires are probably long long overdue)

You may not need Caps, but rotors are cheap and I'd opt for those.

What about extenders ? (do TR's have them ) (I've never owned a TR so I don't know)

Lastly, take all this with a grain of salt until JR gets here to help, he'll get you squared away (I'm just here guessing).

Joe: The pre-cats are gutted,

Joe: The pre-cats are gutted, and the cats replaced with test pipes......I do have a Tubi exhaust.

In an earlier thread, JRV stated that the HC's should be around 150, so the left side may still be a little rich.

I agree that the right is off the wall......I will replace the wires, etc.......my car has 70K miles on it. The distributor caps will also be replaced, because I noticed a "groove" in them, where the rotor goes, while cleaning.

Only after the above is done, can I start to play with the fuel settings.

I feel that the ignition system should be correct, before ANY fuel adjustment is made. I don't want to compensate an ignition problem with an improper fuel setting.

BTW: The extenders are OK, per JRV.