Hi Everybody. Well, I busted my tail this weekend on my project car--1975 450 SEL. Spent hours upon hours trying to solve the problems of very rough and sluggish idle, and black smoke/soot from exhaust.

Here's what I have noticed:

1. Sometimes if the car sits for an extended period of time (several days) then I start it up, it's ok for a while. If I shut it off and restart, the problems seem to start immediately. (Since sometimes it runs/idles OK, I assume the injectors are working.)

2. She's only firing on 4 cylinders: 1,4,5,8 (The 4 corners if you will). I pulled the plug wires from the other cylinders and there was no diff in running.

3. Pulled the plugs and yes, getting spark to bad cylinders.

4. Car runs ridiculously rich. Black smoke, some soot on ground under exhaust, very poor fuel economy.


Heres what I did:

1. Pulled/Cleaned trigger point with business card, electronics cleaner etc.
2. Re-timed everything.
3. Pulled fuel injectors, soaked in carb cleaner. Most of the O Rings were ok.

My mechanic looked at the car a week or so ago and said needed new triggewr points and at least 4 new injectors. Quoted me $1500-$2000 which is WAAAY more than I will spend on the car.

What is your advise to do now? I am thinking of replacing the ignition with a Pertronix system. If I do, can I avoid trigger points altogether? Does anyone know which trigger points control which cylinders?

I don't mind buying some new injectors, but unclear whether my problem is ignition or ful injection (or both).

Advise would be GREATLY appreciated. On the positive side, I learned a GREAT deal this weekend and truly enjoyed working on this old classic car...

Thanks
-Bud