While coming home from a show yesterday, I asked the wife to switch the key from Batt. to Mag. She got to the off position and the key stuck. She could not get it to go to mag, so she switched it back to Battery. When she did it the car did a pretty good backfire. Can this damage the engine??? The car seemed to run rougher today! I have to check the muffler tomorrow. I seems a little more "throaty" today and ran a little rough.
Chip,
I've ruptured the muffler before. No further damage but I'd say it's certainly possible. Hope it's not more than the muffler......
Rob
Rob, I will check that tomorrow, she does sound a little louder! Thanks....Chip
PS----Hows the K coming?
Chip,
Since your backfire was caused by an explosion of unburnt gas in the exhaust system, any damage should be limited to the exhaust system.
Jim
Thanks Jim, that's good to hear!! Would that cause it to run a little rough? (loss of back-pressure?)
Chip,
A couple of years ago I was loading my '29 Model A Super Snow Bird on a trailer when it backfired and blew out the all in one manifold gasket. Why anyone would use anything other than the original style gasket and rings is beyond me. In this case the engine was overhauled by the original owner then put into storage in 1967. I bought the car from him in 1997 when he was 97 years old.
Anyway, if you don't have the ring and gland gaskets, I would put them in. They won't blow out, they seal better and they keep the exhaust manifold from warping.
If your engine runs a little rough now, you may have a damaged intake manifold gasket.
LOL George! My coupe did the same thing.
I know all it needs an in car magnet charge as it will run on mag, sort of.
But I HAD to try it again while driving on a highway.
Bang, boom and SPLAT......blew the wrapper almost into a straight sheet.......ALMOST makes me want to put a glass pak on the old girl.......
Thanks again to all. I think I have narrowed it down to a possible muffler issue and maybe a bent tab in the Anderson timer. I have an aluminium timing gear so I don't think that is the problem. I will pull the timer off tonight and see what it looks like. May have bent a tab when she backfired
That kind of backfire, the unburned gas in the tailpipe kind, almost (note, I said almost) never hurts the engine. I have heard of them damaging floorboards, however. But take it from a long-time speedster guy. They always sound (and feel) rougher after part of the muffler goes away. Whether it is by design, or accident.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Well, I have a "highly modified"muffler on the T!! It kind of looks like a half of a tube with two horizontal wings!!! When the car backfired it blew the outside of the muffler wide open. Just got time to take a quick look, but it does look repairable. I will pull the timer tonight I hope.