Fired up my truck yesterday to go out and it seemed to be running a little rough (85 w150) it has a 360 with a 4bbl in it anyways I got to the top of my block and i heard a bang which i have heard numerous times in the bit of driving i have done since. the sound seemed to be a backfire thru the exhaust seemed to be worse when accelerating. the truck was definitly missing so today i changed the plug wires and the plugs, and there were a few where the insulation seemed to be bad as they gave me little jolts if i touched them, now the truck seems to run a little better but i still get the random bang.

The truck seemed to run ok when it was revved up but at idle and when accelerating or at low rpm ithe problem was worse. Could a weak ignition coil cause problems like this? do they get weaker over time or do they just quit when they go bad?

I picked up a new cap and rotor after finding the plugs and wires didnt fix it . Just wondering if the coil is something i should be looking at too

 

try putting JB-weld to plug in the vent, to keep the moisture out. took me 5 years to figure it out.

 

where on the dist cap is this vent?? although I am not sure that has much to do with my problem my truck has always seemed to run rougher in the rain

 

You may see if your timing is too advanced. Also, sounds like an air/fuel ratio issue.

 

It seems the problem was probably the rotor, the cap didnt seem that bad but after changing them both the truck runs fine.

Still wondering about the ignition coil though, I've so far heard that either 1. They work or they dont or 2. they get weaker over time and start sending out less powerful spark so boys and girls whats the right answer in the case of my dodgee's ignition coil????

 

i don't think they get weaker with age. i have no clue how old my coils are but they can still put out a good spark. sometimes when a coil is failing it will work great when cold but once it gets hot is will stop working.

 

Exactly. Mine failed last fall. Ran great to get me out in the middle of nowhere, but once it got hot, it pooped the bed and left me stranded. Truck started to run rough then after about thirty seconds of that, left me stranded.

 

don't you keep a spare in your truck? i think i have carried a spare since my dad gave me one. only thing i don't have in my truck that i should have is a spare ballast resister.

 

"run rougher in the rain" thats the cap vent letting the moisture in. the vent is between the center tower and the cyl towers. just plug the hole with JB-weld. trust me BUT if a dist has a system that passes vacuum throu the cap dont plug it. i know of no chrysler caps that do that, but some odd ball brands might. after many years of driving dodge trucks i find that water likes the gather at the firewall loading the cap with moisture. it seams worst in the fall.

 

I learned my lesson. I have carried one since. I used to have a spare ballast resister, but my spare became the primary, and I havent replaced it. Hopefully my EFI swap will be done before I need another. Lol.