Why do Fords runs so bad in the rain?

Ok i have 5 Fords of different styles and engine combos and they all run terrible in the rain.I have changed plugs,wires,caps, rotors,messed with carbs,checked all electrical connections,changed coils ignition moduels,nothing helps it gets a little damp and they all run like crap,load up, have to 2 foot the brake and gas.This is getting real annoying,especially since it's been raining for about a week now.Any help will be appreciated.Derek.

 

I've noticed the same thing. I have no idea why...

 

All of our Fords run normal in the rain...

 

i never had the problem until last month , now when it rains and runs ****ty


carbed 300

 

I don't drive mine in the rain (all the window seals are crapped out). But I would take a wild guess and say maybe it has something to do with all the electronics being right up front, getting sprayed on from the road. Hitting the distributor and all the plug connections on it...The radiator fan would just spray a fine mist over the entire front of the engine, getting some moisture into little spaces on and around the distributor??? I know most of the other engine builders have the dizzy on the back of the engine...

Again, just a wild guess. Nothing even remotely educated...

 

never had a problem......

what kind of car?

 

1986 F 150 carbed 300 6cyl

 

what symptoms?

 

when its rain pretty hard, after about 10 mins of driving, it doesnt want to idle, sounds like it wants to stall. But when i am on the gas it runs smooth , but soon as i let off , it will start puttering


i was thinking water was getting into the carb...but i wasent sure

its a carter 1 barrel

 

Water shouldn't affect how well it runs, unless it is a LOT of water. I have sprayed water from a squirt bottle (like the bottles kitchen cleaners come in) directly into the top of the carb and you really have to squirt fast to make the engine even falter a little.

I was told to do this to clean the valves...was supposed to clean carbon deposits off the pistons and valves. Not sure if it worked, but last time i looked under the heads, things looked much cleaner than I would have expected a 35 year old, 60,000 mile motor to look.

 

What kinda plugs do you used? and old mechanic once told me to never use Champions in a Ford, I don't know if it's true but I never have.

 

boush plugs

 

I would try popping the distributor cap off and dry the inside thoroughly to see if that makes a difference. That would either eliminate the cause or zero in on it.

I used to light some paper on fire and hold it under the cap for a few seconds (after I'd dried the cap out with a rag). It worked on my old Ch... Che.. another vehicle I had.

Good luck.

 

I have always had this problem in the northwest. The 460 in my truck is really bad this time of year. We have found that the inside of the carb actually ices up and if you kill the engine for about 2-3 minutes the heat rises and melts the ice and will run fine afterward. Open element air cleaners dont help matters either.I had a Toyota 4x4 with a Weber carb that would build up frost on the outside of the carb and would cough and chug until you shut it off and let the ice melt off. This is very common in these parts. Even more so if you run on fast idle alot.Steve

 

EW boush plugs... i'd use ngk or motorcraft