Help!! Engine Miss

Jim Hanig · 02-01-2012, 10:29 AM

Ben several years ago i had a 396 that had almost the same problem. It was a ground i checked everything like you have . I found it when i pulled on each ground,one of them pulled apart. Just another thought. Jim

Herbie Null · 02-01-2012, 01:16 PM

I fought the same problem for six months engine would miss around 3 grand are under a load. I changed out every thing over 3 thousands dollars in parts, the only thing that was not changed out by me was that stupid disconect switch at the back. I orderd a 175 amp switch and problem was solved. Switch was corroded inside and not supplying enough amps to the msd.

Ben Kallies · 02-03-2012, 05:42 AM

Jim, Herbie,

Thanks for the input. I don't have a main shut off switch, but my battery cables will definitely be an area of interest, along with all of the grounds.

Bill,

Your issue is very interesting, Thank you for sharing.

-Ben

MAURICE BLENDHEIM · 02-03-2012, 09:53 AM

Ben... Any compression or leak down test results yet?

Jack McCarthy · 02-05-2012, 03:35 PM

ben... what type of lifters > solid or hyd > hyd shubeck/limited or reg hyd ???
i had an issue years ago when over winter a lifter went south, would occasionnally try to pump up and cause the miss... at idle & low rpm was good enough to run...b4shubecks

jack

or you could trade it in on a cj or dragpak... dealers love trade ins

Ben Kallies · 02-07-2012, 05:39 AM

Maurice,

Compression test and leakdown test are on the list once it warms up a bit.

Jack,

I'm running Smith limited travel Hydraulic lifters, with about .002" lash.

-Ben

kirk · 02-07-2012, 11:13 PM

Ben,

When you get it running have someone shoot the headers with a temp gun to see if one cylinder is hotter or colder then the others. start checking right away at start up

also check your wire size on the new switches, perhaps they are incorrect size or wired in a way that they steal voltage via a shorted wire.

one thing you can try, see if the car has a electrical draw...........shut off all the accessories..........does the battery spark when you hook the cables up? if so pull fuses one at a time until you find the circuit that is causing the draw.
next check the draw with your new switches turned on one at a time. see if any spark more than others? actually wiring an old door buzzer up with clips on it does wonders for performing these tests, and safer too.....
Did you install any relays with the new switches?

02-01-2012, 10:29 AM	#1
Jim Hanig Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pukwana SD Posts: 860 Likes: 554 Liked 99 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Ben several years ago i had a 396 that had almost the same problem. It was a ground i checked everything like you have . I found it when i pulled on each ground,one of them pulled apart. Just another thought. Jim

02-01-2012, 01:16 PM	#2
Herbie Null Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greencastle pa Posts: 215 Likes: 88 Liked 439 Times in 69 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss I fought the same problem for six months engine would miss around 3 grand are under a load. I changed out every thing over 3 thousands dollars in parts, the only thing that was not changed out by me was that stupid disconect switch at the back. I orderd a 175 amp switch and problem was solved. Switch was corroded inside and not supplying enough amps to the msd. __________________ Herbie Null 201 SS

02-03-2012, 05:42 AM	#3
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Jim, Herbie, Thanks for the input. I don't have a main shut off switch, but my battery cables will definitely be an area of interest, along with all of the grounds. Bill, Your issue is very interesting, Thank you for sharing. -Ben

02-03-2012, 09:53 AM	#4
MAURICE BLENDHEIM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Langley (no igloos), British Columbia, Canada Posts: 569 Likes: 311 Liked 285 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Ben... Any compression or leak down test results yet?

02-05-2012, 03:35 PM	#5
Jack McCarthy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: lyndon ky. ... louisville area Posts: 1,322 Likes: 29 Liked 477 Times in 117 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss ben... what type of lifters > solid or hyd > hyd shubeck/limited or reg hyd ??? i had an issue years ago when over winter a lifter went south, would occasionnally try to pump up and cause the miss... at idle & low rpm was good enough to run...b4shubecks jack or you could trade it in on a cj or dragpak... dealers love trade ins __________________ Jack McCarthy 3609 STK "the Captain"

02-07-2012, 05:39 AM	#6
Ben Kallies Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 107 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Maurice, Compression test and leakdown test are on the list once it warms up a bit. Jack, I'm running Smith limited travel Hydraulic lifters, with about .002" lash. -Ben

02-07-2012, 11:13 PM	#7
kirk Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Kalamazoo Michigan Posts: 34 Likes: 2 Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Help!! Engine Miss Ben, When you get it running have someone shoot the headers with a temp gun to see if one cylinder is hotter or colder then the others. start checking right away at start up also check your wire size on the new switches, perhaps they are incorrect size or wired in a way that they steal voltage via a shorted wire. one thing you can try, see if the car has a electrical draw...........shut off all the accessories..........does the battery spark when you hook the cables up? if so pull fuses one at a time until you find the circuit that is causing the draw. next check the draw with your new switches turned on one at a time. see if any spark more than others? actually wiring an old door buzzer up with clips on it does wonders for performing these tests, and safer too..... Did you install any relays with the new switches?