440ic not coming up to speed after rebuild

[mackmodelb]

I recently rebuilt a 1969 440ic crawler. Engine reinstalled and turned over. Converted and rewired system to 12v neg ground. Hit starter. Cranked well and backfired after choking. Checked timing and found off. Also found I installed oil pump one tooth off, but should be able to compensate my screw up with distributor. Retired after static timing procedure. . Popped off and wants to run onchoke only but does not come up to speed. Will stay running somewhat after heavy crankingwith choke on but around 400 rpm only till it dies on own and does not increase with throttle. As all the ignition parts are new, I am thinking it is carb related. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Jim B]

Welcome to the Boards.

Just a thought. When you converted to 12 volts did you keep the original distributor cap or change it to the cap often sold as a 12-volt cap?

You need the original style cap. The one often called a 12-volt cap is for the Waterloo built two-cylinder engines and the plug wire sockets are in a different location in relation to the clips that hold it. The Dubuque engines will generally run on one cylinder with a Waterloo distributor cap but will not run on both cylinders.

[mackmodelb]

JimB. I purchased a new cap and installed. I will have to verify the cap. I thought I compared the new with the original one and they looked familiar. Thank you for the input.

[JAJ]

My experience with “NEW” points for a 440 has not been good.
My local JD parts department told me they were having problems with contact material rapidly burning. Mine started and ran lfine for about ten minutes and started back firing. Looked at my new points and they were badly burned. Then I tried NAPA points, same thing.
Very poor quality, even brand new they are junk.
Beware!!
I changed over to Pertronix electronic ignition.
Awesome!!

[mackmodelb]

I decided to go the route of ordering a Pertronix ignition, new HD coil, wires and caps from Yesterdays Tractors. I ordered both distributor caps for the Delco vertical distributor,6 & 12 volt. (Mainly because I am curious to the different cap configurations.) From replies, I am assuming the vertical 6 volt cap is what I need for this. I will update on my progress and outcome after I get the new parts to install. Thank you all for your input.

[Jim B]

I thought you likely still had your old cap to compare. I guess I should have posted these before. You can see the copper pins for the plug wires as compared to the location of the clips and index tabs on the two caps.

[mackmodelb]

JimB. Thank you for the diagrams for both distributor caps. I did have my old cap, and it looks comparable to the new one I put on it. The caps I have all look like the Dubuque cap. As I recently purchased this dozer from a guy who purchased it from a guy who started restoring it and stopped, I was not certain the original cap was correct. It did not run the greatest the little I used it when I got it running the first time. Then spun the rod bearings and the bores were very pitted from years of sitting outside. Not it is bored .40 over with new pistons, rods, bearings, etc. While the block was at the machine shop, I decided to switch it over to 12v neg ground system and started purchasing ignition parts for it and put a 45 amp Kubota alternator on it. Was hoping for a better first start attempt outcome than I had, but I am leaning toward ignition issues. I rebuilt the carb and again went though it this weekend and all seems good. Did a compression check and both cylinders are at 135 psi. Trying to rule out if I reassembled it incorrectly. After pulling the distributor off, I know I am one tooth off on the oil pump, but have installed in the correct orientation. I can adjust the distributor to correct my tooth being off. Hoping for better results when the Pertronix ignition parts, coil, and wires are installed. Thanks again for all your help.

[mackmodelb]

After installing Pertronix ignition, new coil and wires, got engine started. Still lagging power and speeds. Was able to get rpms up to 1400 rpm. Got around to check with timing light and can't dial it in. Looked up to see cherry red exhaust so shut it off. I am suspecting that the cam timing is off by a tooth. Was hoping not to pull apart again to check, but I am out of ideas. I know I have spark and fuel now. Narrowing it down to timing. Any other ideas before I do a inframe teardown? Thanks.

[JAJ]

Have you contacted customer service at Pertronix to explain your current issues? It may be caused by an issue they have/had with the donut looking piece that presses onto the vertical shaft. This piece has small magnets imbedded in it that pass by the sensor which breaks and makes the circuit. My 440 had similar issues.
Pertronix admitted having manufacturing issues and sent me all new components. Problem solved. Hopefully they fixed their issues but worthy of a call. I purchased mine from Pertronix directly.
Good luck

[mackmodelb]

Update. First, thanks to all for the help in solving my issue. Pulled the oil reservoir and radiator to get at front of engine. Pulled pulleys and such off. Took front cover off to verify that the cam was timed correctly. It was. Put it back together and attempted to start. Same issue. Will pop but no running. After banging my head against the wall again, I decided to look at where the the distributor rotor is pointed when it should be sparking on cyl 1, according to the flywheel mark. The original distributor location for #1 wire was at 2 o'clock while the rotor was at 9 o'clock. Spun the distributor around so #1 wire was at 9 o'clock ish and it popped off and ran fine. Brought it up to speed and dialed the distributor in to 23 degrees. I probably should have verified this prior to doing an inframe service. I will know better the next time. I knew that I had the oil pump timing off when I initially installed the oil pump. (did not have the tool and tried to eyeball it) At least it now has an updated elec ignition system. Again, thanks to everyone for the help in getting the old girl back up and running.