Last summer I had my 1914 T on blocks and started it up to let it run for a while. It ran for about 5 min. and the exhaust got cheery red and it slowly died. I think that I have my fuel mixture set too lean and wondered if there is a rule of thumb as where to set it. I have always had to adjust the gas mixture after it starts. I set it too rich and then adjust it to where it sounds right after I advance the timing. It has been running hot on me at slow speeds in the past. I thought this may be the problem. Any thoughts?
Don
Don Spellman:
Its real easy to misadjust your gas while the car is sitting still in the shop. Take your car on a LONG SLIGHT DOWNHILL. Lean your gas until is starts to miss the turn it back a LITTLE. The reason you want to be going down a long slight hill is when it starts running rough you can still keep the motor running until you richen the gas back up. Try it its simple.
On blocks is quite simple. Before starting set the mixture on a 'NH' or 'G' to fully closed and open 1 1/2 turns. Then start the car and get it hot. Running the motor at a fast idle, retard the timing and then lean the mixture off until she starts to miss a little. At that point richen back up a shade. Advance the timing and it should be correct.
When I was younger, I always used to richen up the mixture for starting a tad, but since then I have learned to just leave the adjustment alone. The only time I adjust it now, is when I'm at high altitudes.
Consider checking the timing. Retarded timing is often the cause of a red exhaust.