'79 Ford Ignition Help

[MED]

My father gave me his 1979 Lincoln Mark V Collector's Series; it is has 1571 original miles on it. Typical Ford of this era, I am having problems with the ignition. The engine is basically new and original to what it was when it rolled off the assembly line. There is a weak spark (visual spark intensity inspection) to all eight cylinders; it fires and runs but fouls all eight plugs in about 30 minutes or so of running. The goofy ignition module was replaced once about 15 years ago. I tried a different coil. The plug wires, cap and rotor are all new but I inspected them. I am kind of at a loss with this one. Any Ford guys have any ideas?

Edit: It looks like there is an ignition voltage regulator. I guess I will try to find this guy.

[DOC]

I would like to offer some advice of checking for a fried wire connection. However, when my Mustang was doing this very same thing I just put an MSD multispark box on it and it sent enough fire to each plug that I haven't had a problem since.

[TFOGGER]

The Ford ignition modules are crap(on the fender or firewall). You may also have a bad ballast resistor(between the ignition switch and the positive side of the ignition coil). The ballast resistor is a white ceramic resistor usually bolted to the firewall. Back in the day, I rewired my Granada to use a GM HEI module after replacing 3 Ford modules in about a year and a half.

[Great-Kazoo]

What does the tail pipe look like, clean, oily / sooty, black?

[TFOGGER]

What does the tail pipe look like, clean, oily / sooty, black?

That question could be really funny, taken out of context...

[MED]

What does the tail pipe look like, clean, oily / sooty, black?

Carbon is coming out the exhaust, and the plugs are fouled with carbon and smell like fuel. If the spark wasn't so weak, I would be looking at the carb.

[MED]

The Ford ignition modules are crap(on the fender or firewall). You may also have a bad ballast resistor(between the ignition switch and the positive side of the ignition coil). The ballast resistor is a white ceramic resistor usually bolted to the firewall. Back in the day, I rewired my Granada to use a GM HEI module after replacing 3 Ford modules in about a year and a half.

I know all about the POS Ford ignition box; I replaced it once on this car when it had around 1,000 miles on the odometer. I thought about replacing it again, but a failed module usually results in a no spark condition,

[MED]

I would like to offer some advice of checking for a fried wire connection. However, when my Mustang was doing this very same thing I just put an MSD multispark box on it and it sent enough fire to each plug that I haven't had a problem since.

If it wasn't a 1571 mile collector car, I would rip out the whole ignition system and use an MSD; actually, I would probably rip out the engine.

[DOC]

It can be installed and returned to factory without changing anything. Although it might be just rich. The floats might need adjusted. A lot of problems can be caused right there. Air fuel screws out of adjustment. Valve guides can be cracked too. Without more information it's hard to tell why it's fouling plugs.

[Great-Kazoo]

Carbon is coming out the exhaust, and the plugs are fouled with carbon and smell like fuel. If the spark wasn't so weak, I would be looking at the carb.

Before the carb i'd go to the cat converter. Even with weak spark there are telltale signs your converter is or has taken a shit. Yes even with the lack of mileage it has. Who knows how many times someone had ran the vehicle for a few minutes, to "charge the battery". Unfortunately doing a short run (multiple times) does more damage to the engine than letting it sit there.