1964 Falcon Vacuum Advance or timing troubles?

I am trying to help my dad out again with his Ford. He relayed all of this information to me over the phone so I hope I get this correct enough for someone's advice.

How can you tell if the advance mechanism is not working? The van seems to have a vacuum problem, it doesn't run well when cold and then runs better once warm. When it was warm, it seemed to run much better under higher RPM. Also, pulling any of the plug wires off at anytime didn't make it run worse than it already did. It misses like crazy.

Now that it is so cold in Indiana the van won't fire and run at all. It backfires through the carb and seems to be out of time. The advance mechanism in the distributor seems to be completely stiff and won't move when pushed or rotated.

What should we look for or test? The diaphragm is fairly new. Thank you in advance for your help.

Scott

Scott Has this van always hated the cold???? My 69 chevy has and it always starts hard when cold.

This is off topic, but if you get a chance give us a picture of your Dads econo. I know hes been driving it for years

What if the mechanical part of the advance is stuck in the advanced position? Wouldn't the timing be off? My dad says he can't move any of the springs or parts around.

I also think my dad should take a good look at the points.

Check out this link later on timing issues. First of all, need to make sure youre carb and dizzy match. Will look that up also,, has to do with wrong carb installed possibly over the yrs????? Next and the basics are the dizzy. The advance plate needs to move freely, in order for either the springs and weights or the vacume canister to move it correctly?????????? if gummed up as usual, or broken springs??? it cant work right in the first place.
Secondly, its impossible to correctly set the timing, UNLESS you firstly set the dwell correctly. Please ready in DWELL not adjusting the points with a feeler gauge,, LOL..
A "DWELL" meter sets the points EXACTLY on the correct setting, and averages things like worn dizzy cam lobes, loose bearings/bushings, etc,, etc,, but sets the points right on the money,, no guess work like is the feeler gauge really sliding easily or too tight really????????????
IF you use a timing light ( have no idea where mine has gotten to???), it doesnt acount for stretched chains, so I always set mine by ear... but again,, only after I set the Dwell. Basically, also, pull the dizzy and clean the advance plate, or replace it with a rebuilt unit,, pretty cheap actually. Then you can fight any missing engine issues or other problems, until then you will go in circles pulling your hair out,,, LOL.. will post the link later or loose this one, dratzzzz

vic
vic

here is some real good reading,,
vic

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/timing/index.shtml

I'll have to check again as the Alzheimer's may be kicking in, but the '64 should be a LOM (load-o-matic) system with no centrifugal advance, just vacuum.

Old Skool wrote:here is some real good reading,,
vic

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/03/timing/index.shtml

Great link Old School. I've been having some timing issues lately and this will be a big help... Thanks!