74 Spider Backfiring (but first view scenic pictures)

[TxDave]

I've had excelllent fortune getting this baby running like a dream from your help. We solved the cold start injector flooding it on start. Then the mysterious missing spark issue was solved by jiggling stuff around the distributor. I was able to go on this scenic 40 mile round trip. The car couldn't have driven any smoother.
http://users3.ev1.net/~eldave/74blue...ve/therapy.htm

So I get home and the spark is missing again. I test everything. Wires are good, coil is good, power is good...... I mess with the ground under the distributor again, but still nothing. So now I think maybe it was when I openned up the distributor and jiggled stuff around that fixed it last time. Didn't someone mention slipped points? I do the interior dizzy jiggle.... Now spark is stronger than I've ever seen it (at least it seems so). But the only thing that happens when I turn the key is backfire. What gives? Can anyone with a keen eye see what is happenning in here:
http://users3.ev1.net/~eldave/alfapoints/points.htm

[TxDave]

Know what? I'm gonna go rotate the cap a little... Will report.

[TxDave]

Why on earth did I even start this thread!

Who passes out the dumbass award in these here parts...

I had the rotor on backwards. How you ask? Something to do with the proverbial square peg and round hole. I was 180 out.. Atleast the exhaust got a good clean out. Carbon all over the driveway.

Enjoy the "Therapy" website though.

Yours in little convertible addiction,
Dave

[Pat's91]

Dave, Glad you figured it out and don't feel bad, your in good company!

Great looking Spider. It looks good in blue, is it the original color?

Pat

[gotglasses]

That green goo has to be cleaned up - disconnect the condenser and at least clean it with a fine sandpaper or sanding pen. It sounds like a bad condenser , or the high resistance from that oxidation. The points can be filed in a pinch but should be replaced if they are burnt ( which is a strong possibility if the condenser is not in the circuit protecting the points from excessive arcing ). Borrow a dwell meter to check the points 57-63 degrees/.017-.019 inch. If you have dual points , this is hard to do, you have to block one set while cranking engine to check dwell. If you have new points you can get pretty close with just the feeler gauges. Set distributor to the index line and it should start, fine tune with a timing light. Remember - you only turn the distributor a tiny bit for huge changes in the timing.

[TxDave]

It is the original color and it is absolutely gorgeous. It was repainted in the original color.

I bought it from the original owner who bought it new in 1974 when he was 24 years old. He got it on loan for $6,XXX straight off the showroom floor and drove promptly back to Austin. He said they were hard to come by, but his father knew the dealer in Dallas. They had five on order, but were all spoken for. One fell through and this was the one meant for him. I think the blue looks awesome. This 89 on ebay looks fantastic in blue.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

[B. Morgan]

Dave,
I'm a fellow Austinite. We should hook up and do some cruising. I've had my 88 Spider since January and get a kick out of cruising around the Hill Country.

[Roadtrip]

Man, Dave, that's about the cruddiest distributor I've seen in a while. Need to clean that bad boy up. Chances are the spade terminal on the bottom of the distr base is corroded too. That thing is going to let you down unless it's cleaned up.

TxDave, what is your paint code no? Every source I've checked tells me that 323 can't be right, there is no number 323 and that it must be 343. But 343 is just not the right blue for my car. I have located 2 323 nos, one for 68-70 and another for 80 only. Italians build great cars but have a strange way of keeping records. "What'sa behind me (or on paper) is NOT important" is what Roul Julia should have said.

[TxDave]

B. Morgan,

Check out the hill country alfa club. Do a google search. They get together and ride every so often. I've always wanted to do that. The Texas Hill Country is fantastic for a top down drive. I would take you up on that offer if the car wasn't already sold. There's a long story behind it. I saw this car sitting outside a building unmoved for 2 years. I bought it, got it running, cleaned it up, took my little "therapy ride" and sold it. That was always the plan, but I must admit this one really hooked me.

Alfa-of-course:

I can't find a paint code...

If its still there after 30 years it is on the underside of the trunk lid, middle and all the way forward, small (1.25 x 2.5) silver and black sticker, but if youv'e sold the car this info won't be of much use. Until you get your next spider. Right?

[Keven]

Dave,

Get yourself a Petronixs kit from www.summitracing.com for about $80 and never fiddle with points again!!

You still however need to put the rotor in correctly

Great looking car, and road.

[papajam]

Getting back to paint codes for a moment, I have AR323 listed as Pininfarina Blue introduced in 1969 and two AR343s; Dutch Blue/GR in 1968 and Dutch Blue/BL (appears slightly lighter than GR) in 1984.

[boggissimo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxDave I've had excelllent fortune getting this baby running like a dream from your help. We solved the cold start injector flooding it on start. Then the mysterious missing spark issue was solved by jiggling stuff around the distributor. I was able to go on this scenic 40 mile round trip. The car couldn't have driven any smoother. http://users3.ev1.net/~eldave/74blue...ve/therapy.htm

[Peter]

Tx Dave and B Morgan, I am a fellow Austinite. Would love to hook up...Hope to have my spider back on the road by fall this year. The Hill country chapter of AROC typically has a tour in October. Great fun, and you'll see more Austin based Alfas than you though was possible.
Once a year is not enough tho....we could do some more tours with smaller goups!