My 75 mav still will not start. When I bought the car it had no spark, so I'm not sure when it ran last. The car just cranks. I have spark- pulled #1 and verified getting gas - Pulled #1 after cranking and it was wet. I pulled the valve covers and some rockers are loose, but I'm not sure what's normal. I did notice a very small amount of gas around the bottom of the carb after cranking for a few minutes. The one thing I did notice it nevers really blows my thumb off #1 when cranking. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
What do you mean by loose? Have you done a compression check on all cylinders? What engine is this? Have you tried a little staring fluid down the carb to see if it would run for a few seconds?
There are 3 things needed for an engine to run. Fuel Compression Ignition 90% of all engine problems I have found to be electrical Sounds like you have fuel in there with the wet plugs and even if the compression were way off, the engine would still run, just poorly. Compression is easy to check with a compression guage if you are in doubt about sufficient compression. That leaves ignition: So go and make sure you have the proper spark at the right timing. Check for a nice strong blue/purple spark. Yellow spark is weak. If you have a good spark - check that the timing is good. Do this by getting #1 cylinder at top dead center of the compression stroke and looking at the rotor inside the distributor cap to make sure it is pointing at the #1 wire. If it is not, your distributor is not timed to the engine cycle. Once sure of timing, check firing order and plug wires to make sure all go where they should. If you have all three, fuel - compression - ignition - it should run.
I need to add, make sure the gas is fresh. Real old gas will still get the plugs wet but will not run. I have seen this a lot in cars that have sat along time.
Thanks, It a 302. Can you check compression without it running? I've added about 5 gallons of gas and have tried started fluid. The spark seems to be more white when testing during the day. I'll check the spark again. I put new wires, cap, msd blaster coil, rotor and had the Duraspark module tested at AutoZone. I have an extra distributor, but figure why put it in if I'm getting a spark. Thanks
hook up a vaccum gauge and check your cranking vaccum, also do a compression test, not sure what spec is, but dry compression test for my i6 200 is about 160, so thats a starting point...or try putting a little oil in each cylinder(your rings might be stuck...so the oil will help bring your compression back up) than try to start...since you have spark that shouldn't be a problem, if your trying to start it with the air filter on, check the air filter(might be filled with junk) check your cranking rpm, it should be around 250, if it cranks pretty fast you probably have no compression theres 4 basic principles to making an engine run spark, fuel, air, and compression, you have spark, you tried starter fluid(fuel), you probably have air(just take the air cleaner off and try to start it if your not sure) the only thing left is compression...i've heard putting a squirt or 2 of marvel mystery oil in each cylinder will free stuck rings...might be worth a shot. how many miles are on the motor?
Make sure your mechanicle timeing is good.Then make sure the distributor is timed correctly...then do a compression check.If the chain has jumped you wont get accurate compression readings since valves are not opening in proper relation to the pistons.Sounds like you have everything else you need to get it to run.Good luck.
hmmmmm .............. If you are absolutely sure the spark is firing at the right time and in the right cylinder. I would double check that you have good fresh gasoline. If you dumped 5 gals of fresh gas into a tank that had 5 gallons of old/bad gas in it - all you did was make 10 gallons of bad gas. Old gas will make an extream lean mixture that will not burn for combustion.
how long sence it last ran. my two suspisions are first the distrubtor is out of time, or the gas is bad.
How far is North Augusta, SC from Augusta, GA? I will probably be going to the Pull-A-Part in Augusta next Saturday. If it's not too far (within an hour), I'd be happy to drop by and see what we can do with it. The Pull-A-Part's address is: 329 Sand Bar Ferry Rd Augusta, GA 30901
Jamie, I'm ten minutes from the Pull-A-Part in Augusta. What are you looking for there? I checked out their inventory last week. If anyone every sees anything listed at the Augusta Pull-A-Part that they would like checked out I'll be happy to go and report back. I apologize for the title of this thread, but I put a hole in the rad by being stupid yesterday. The reason I bought this car was to see if I could get it running so I'm more comfortable finishing up my 72 Comet GT that was my grand father's. The way it's going I more afraid to touch the GT. Jamie, I would appreciate any help!!! Thanks Bob
Mainly the Pinto they have listed, it may have the oil pan and alternator brackets I'm looking for for my 2.3 swap. If you could swing by there and check it out, man that would be great.
No problem, I'll swing by at lunch either today or tomorrow and see what it has. The only one I see is a 77 on row 302 Bob
