Your situation is very odd. Usually electronics fail due to too much heat, not cold. I suppose there could be a very remote chance that hotter temperatures cause the parts inside the distributor to expand and therefore decrease the reluctor gap, but I strongly doubt that is the case.

It might be worth it to throw the points ignition back on just to see if the problem is even ignition related. This is a puzzler for sure!

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

The gap should not change depending on temperature (but some reluctor teeth can be longer than others so I always check all 6 when gapping the pickup), but depending on your wiring connections, I know crimp style electrical connectors can contract in the cold...

Hey All,
Monday Noon Update:

Temperature is up to 52 degrees. Working INSIDE Lorrie is nice and warm because the sun shines through the Windshield heating the interior and Lorrie is well insulated.

So this morning:

Checked the continuity between the "+" Terminal of the Battery to the Fuse Panel. It is good.

Checked the Fuses. They are ALL good.

Checked the continuity between the Fuse Panel Common to the "IGN" Fitting on the Wire that connects to the FBO System VR-1 Electronic Voltage Regulator through the Run Switch, with the Wire removed from the VR-1. It is good.

Checked the Voltage between the Fuse Panel Common to the "IGN" Terminal of the FBO System VR-1 Electronic Voltage Regulator through the Run Switch, with the Wire removed from the VR-1. It was 12.12 Volts.

Checked the continuity between the Fuse Panel Common to the "B" Terminal of the NAPA Echlin TP45 Control Module through the Run Switch. It is good.

Checked the Voltage between the Fuse Panel Common to the "B" Terminal of the NAPA Echlin TP45 Control Module through the Run Switch. It was 12.12 Volts.

Pulled Number 6 Spark Plug, and found the Spark Plug's Porcelain to be BLACK and WET with gasoline. Dried it off and put it back into the Spark Plug Wire's Boot and put it in contact with a ground. Turned on the Run Switch, activated the Start Switch, and got a BIG, FAT Spark.

Removed ALL of Lorrie's NGK ZFR5N Spark Plugs gapped to 0.035":

Number 6 Spark Plug's Porcelain was BLACK and WET.
Number 5 Spark Plug's Porcelain was White and dry.
Number 4 Spark Plug's Porcelain was White and dry.
Number 3 Spark Plug's Porcelain was White and dry.
Number 2 Spark Plug's Porcelain was White and dry.
Number 1 Spark Plug's Porcelain was BLACK and SOOTY.

Am surmising that had the Number 6 Spark Plug not been wet, it would have been sooty like the Number 1 Spark Plug.

Noticed that when trying to start Lorrie this morning, that while cranking, there was a goodly amount of flow in the Plastic Fuel Filter, an indication that there was a goodly amount of gasoline going into the Fuel Bowl of the Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor.

Did a careful inspection of the Carburetor and found that the Gasket around and between the Fuel Bowl Body and the Air Horn/Lid Assembly was wet. Also found a small amount of fuel on the outside and on the underside of the Fuel Bowl.

All of the Spark Plugs are out, lying on Lorrie's Driver's Seat in the direct sunlight to dry them.

Turned the Engine with the Starter and got a goodly amount of gasoline vapor odor out of the Spark Plug Holes.

Am more and more coming to the conclusion that the Bendix Stromberg Carburetor is emptying the contents of the Fuel Bowl into the Intake Manifold overnight.

The front of the Engine sits higher than the rear of the Engine. Thus the Number 6 Spark Plug is getting drenched because the gasoline is running DOWN the Number 6 Intake Manifold Runner into the Number Six Cylinder.

The Gasket between the Fuel Bowl Body and the Air Horn/Lid Assembly is wet because the Float level is too high.

It is possible that the Fuel Inlet Needle&Seat is not consistently staunching the flow of gasoline into the Fuel Bowl.

It is possible that a Fuel Passage in the Carburetor is clogged causing the siphoning of fuel from the Fuel Bowl into the Intake Manifold overnight.

It is possible that the Reluctor/Pickup Gap is out of adjustment in the Mopar Electronic Distributor causing it to not put out a strong enough trigger signal to the Control Module when the temperature is down below 40 degrees.

It is possible that as Don Gould at FBO Systems says that the Mopar Electronic Distributor is not well suited to trigger a GM Style Control Module.

Am going to go out and turn the Engine with the Spark Plugs removed some more, a few more times, and then reinstall the Spark Plugs.

Suspect that the Engine will start because of it not being flooded.

Don't have any explanation for Number 1 Spark Plug's Porcelain being Black and SOOTY when Numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, are all WHITE. Also, it is NOT oily. The SOOT is from an overly rich fuel situation.

Why Cylinders 1 and 6 would be overly rich while Cylinders 2, 3, 4, and 5, are WHITE mystifies me.

Am thinking that the Bendix Stromberg Carburetor needs to be removed, taken apart, cleaned, the Float Adjusted, and a NEW Gasket cut and installed. And maybe a NEW Fuel Inlet Needle&Seat Assembly acquired and installed.

Also, the Float may be saturated.

The thought also crossed my mind that maybe Lorrie is just not a morning person, but is possibly fancies herself as a "Lady of the Evening"!

Are we anywhere NEAR an explanation here?

Any insights, considering the above observations are welcome.

Be well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey Reed,
Tell me about it!
Am surmising that IF indeed temperature has anything to do with anything, it would be on a molecular level which would maybe mess with resistance.
Like your term: "throw the point ignition back on". At my level of health and expertise, that is a week long project. Also, the HEI System was installed because I couldn't get the Point&Condenser System to work! Which is maybe an indication that what is wrong is the Fuel System and NOT the Ignition System at all.
See Monday's Noon Update and let me know what your impression is.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey Mr. DI,
Have gone through and through the wiring, and it all checks out for continuity and voltage.

Am more and more convinced that it isn't the Ignition, but am not TOTALLY convinced that it isn't.

See the Monday Noon Update and let me know what you think.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Here's a few thoughts as they come to mind,
1/ Don't let it beat you,take your time,you WILL get there,look at how far you've come with her!
2/ Don't be concerned about the compatibility of the Mopar pickup triggering GM HEI .This swap isn't anything exclusive to the slant six,guys have used all sorts of triggers,even points and has run on all brands of cars and bikes from what I've read. Your man may be quite correct about his unit being better,the HEI isn't exactly the last word in ignition development,but does a fine job all the same and is excellent bang for buck.
3/ You mentioned a screw loose on the HEI unit? This unit must be securely attached to a good flat surface for both heat transfer and also grounding,those attach screws are where the grounding wire should also be attached.
4/ Your fuel system.....do you have an electric or engine driven pump?
5/ Mixture distribution in a slant six intake is not exactly optimum to put it nicely,but I thought ( from memory) 1 and 6 were the lean ones,strange yours are rich.
6/ I'm not familiar with Stromberg carbs,but I have no doubt they can be good units.Is it possible it has a sticking needle and seat ( float valve) that floods the engine? You mentioned a flow of fuel via the filter? Sounds abnormal for a carb that's only been sitting for a day or so and should still have a float chamber full of fuel.I had a problem on my slant of hard starting after sitting for a week,turns out the fuel evaporates from a relatively tiny float bowl on the 2 barrel carters very quickly,I remedied the problem,but even when the carb was dry the flow thru the filter wasn't exactly a torrent,just a gradual filling as I cranked her over to get things full.
7/Do check the dist reluctor or gap and pickup coil resistance,and lube the felt wick for the advance mechanism while your there,look at it this way,if I bought a new points dissy ( which I personally wouldn't!) I would check the points gap before running it,so do the same with the reluctor gap, like I said before,quality control isn't exactly job number 1 from what I've seen!
Good luck with her,you're getting there!

Hey Steve,
Thanks for the encouragement. I needed that.
Yes. And when Lorrie's Engine runs, it runs really good.
Am not all THAT concerned about it.
Have checked, double checked, and triple checked the ground. It is GOOD.
It is a NEW stock (engine driven) Fuel Pump from NAPA.
That puzzles me also.
Have just spent the afternoon removing the Bendix Stromberg Carburetor and am going to be doing a thorough inspection of it. Will let you know what is found.
Lorrie was running yesterday around mid afternoon. It is possible that the Fuel Filter was just filling as it COULD have drained back to the Fuel Pump.
I just caught a glimpse of it as I wasn't watching for it. But there was like a foaming in the Filter.
Will get to that right after the Carburetor is finished.
It's like I've told a number of people: "If this wasn't a hobby, I'd probably junk both of these old heaps! It like being married to a couple of cranky old women!"

Anyway, thanks for the response and encouragement. Am going to keep after this.

Hope you are well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

I don't buy the argument that the Mopar distributor pickup isn't strong enough to trigger the HEI ECU. I have done several conversion over the years and too many other people have done the HEI conversion and had no problems for this to be a real issue.

It sounds to me like you need some careful diagnosis of that carb. I have never actually touched a Stromberg carb, so I can't help with troubleshooting, but an empty float bowl and wet spots on the outside of the carb sounds like a failed gasket and/or float and needle and seat problems.

I would concentrate on the carb for now.

I second the caution that the HEI unit must be strongly mounted since the metal back of the unit is the ground for the unit. However, the metal rings through which the mounting screws pass are also connected to the back of the unit, so if the screw is making good contact with the HEI module and a ground, then you should be OK.

Keep at it!

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Hey Reed,
Just the fact that when Lorrie runs, she runs GREAT has led me to not worry about the Mopar Distributor being the problem.
As was mentioned to SlantSteve, have removed the Bendix Stromber Carburetor and it is presently sitting in my clean room. Am going to fill the float bowl and see if it leaks overnight. In the meantime am going to be cutting a NEW Gasket for it, and will clean and inspect it before reassembling it tomorrow.
The unit was taken apart and the Fuel Bowl is half full. The Float is floating on the gasoline in the Fuel Bowl. Am going to be inspecting the Fuel Inlet/Needle&Seat assembly. And am going to be cutting a NEW Gasket for it this evening.
Exactly.
Have a Ground Strap going from the Front Bolt that is holding the NAPA Echlin TP45 Control Module in place. It is Grounded securely.
It's too late to turn back!

Will keep you updated. Thanks for the response.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Tuesday Morning Update:

Got the Gasket for the Bendix Stromberg Carburetor cut.

Filled the Fuel Bowl with gasoline. Set it on a brown paper bag. There IS a slight amount of gasoline leaking, but it isn't into the Venturi. It is from a Screw under the Fuel Bowl. Will make a NEW Gasket for THAT Screw.

Am going to take the unit apart, clean it and reassemble it. Then reinstall it on Lorrie's Intake Manifold.

Will let you know how it goes.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Tuesday Afternoon Update:

The Bendix Stromberg Model W (also known as a Model WA-3) has been cleaned, given a NEW Gasket, and reassembled.

It is sitting on the bench ready to be installed even as I type.

Have been up since before last Midnight cutting the NEW Gasket, and spending the rest of the time cleaning the parts and assembling the unit.

Am not in any condition to go put it on Lorrie's Intake Manifold.

Am going to rest for the remainder of the day and put it all together tomorrow mid-morning.

There were no leaks into the Venturi.

Will let you all know how it goes tomorrow.

Be well.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Wednesday Morning Update:

Am rested up after taking yesterday afternoon off after finishing assembling Lorrie's Bendix Stromberg Carburetor. Am going to be installing it today and seeing if Lorrie will start&run. If she will, am going to go do some grocery shopping.

If Lorrie doesn't start&run, am going to have to have my welder neighbor come with his trunk and we'll move Lorrie out from behind Ms. American, and then get Ms. American off of the Jack Stands and Ramps to go do the weekly errands, even though she is not doing well. At least she will start&run.

Was thinking last night that not only is Lorrie the ONLY Dodge P200 Postal Van left in the world, she is apparently the only vehicle with a Bendix Stromberg Model WA-3 Carburetor that Google finds on the whold World Wide Web.

Have decided to give Lorrie ONE more chance. Am going to go back over EVERYTHING with the Electrical and Fuel Delivery System to see if what keeps her from being reliable can be found.

Will do a step by step process to check EACH and EVERY thing, and make sure that what the problem is is NOT something that either myself or Lorrie's Components is doing.

Will keep the updates coming.

BTW, want to thank EVERYONE for their suggestions and comments. I sometimes fail to do that when the ordeal of messing with Lorrie gets me down.

Anyway, it's onward through the fog.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

JC-

According to THIS article on Allpar, SlantSixDan says that the Bendix Stromberg Model WA-3 carb was a 1963 only carburetor.

Are you sure it is the original carb to the engine? Have you considered trying a different carburetor altogether?

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Hey Reed,
Am aware of that.
Reed, Am ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY SURE that it is NOT the ORIGINAL Carburetor to this Engine. Also the Intake and Exhaust Manifolds are NOT ORIGINAL to this Engine either.

Although not completely sure WHAT Carburetor is ORIGINAL to this Engine, when Lorrie came to live with me in 1975, she had a Holley 1920. It was slated to be reinstalled after being rebuilt, but the Body of the Holley disintegrated in the Berryman's Chemtool in which it was soaked overnight!
Well, THAT has been considered, but at this point, a NEW or at least DIFFERENT Carburetor is not in the budget.

BUT, this Bendix Stromberg Model WA-3 was acquired from Daniel, and am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that Daniel wouldn't supply Lorrie with a Carburetor that wouldn't work. And the fact that it DOES work, and works WONDERFULLY when Lorrie decides to start&run is an indication that it is alright.

And to be candid, I REALLY like this Carburetor, as it is the ONLY one that GOOGLE finds on the whole World Wide Web. It seems to suit Lorrie and Ms. American's "RARENESS", if you see the point.

In any case, am just taking a break from a morning of working on Lorrie, installing the cleaned and re-gasketed WA-3.

Everything (Fuel Line, PCV Hose, Vacuum Advance Hose, Choke Push Rod, Throttle Linkage) is all hooked up.

Fast Idle Screw and Hot Engine Idle Screw are in approximately the same position they were BEFORE the WA-3 was uninstalled.

Have the Idle Mixture Screw set at 1-3/4 turns out from being lightly seated. That's where it was BEFORE the Carburetor was taken apart, cleaned, and reassembled with the NEW Gasket.

Have checked all the Electrical Circuit, Fuses, Connections, Voltages, and etc. The Battrery has 12.67 Volts.

Have the Actron Tachometer/Dwell/Voltage Meter hooked up.

Am all set to see if Lorrie will start&run.

Am scared to death because if she doesn't start and run, this will probably be the last time that anything will be done with her, other than to get her out from behind Ms. American and park her out of the way to be left to rot.

I just can't keep doing this.

Am thinking her refusal to start is because she doesn't like what has become of her, and she blames me for THAT. I've almost totally lost confidence in her. I just can't trust her.

OR, maybe she just prefers to sit like she did for sixteen years between 1996 and 2012 more than she likes to be up&running.

I don't know what more can be done.

Anyway, am going to summon the courage to go out and see if she will start&run.

Will let you know what happens.

JC

_________________
Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

I was thinking the same thing as Reed. Too bad you don't have a Holley 1920 to put on it.

Those carbs are stupid proof and very easy to set up and maintain. I have rebuilt and re-jetted mine many times without removing it from the engine.
Jet changes at the race track take 3 minutes tops! and that is with out spilling a drop of fuel.

You have come this far, don't give up now....!

_________________
Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG