57fordsforever.com

Technical => General Tech Discussion => Topic started by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-06 16:25

Title: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-06 16:25
well, today it really should have started!!**&&^^%%!!

background: rebuilt 272, all wiring replaced, new radiator and gas tank, and about a thousand other things over the last 19 years... I'm slow but you know how it is when you have to stop most everything to raise a family!!

Lastly, installed new fuel pump, got gas up to and into the carb, turns over, but no start...

can my timing be so off that starting would be impossible?  can't think of anything else, but would appreciate some suggestions/experiences/advice!!

I gotta get this thing started pretty soon or the Mrs and my Jr. mechanic-13 yr old son are going to re-think their faith in DAD!!

appreciate any help
Mark
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: shopratwoody on 2008-12-06 18:46
keep it simple. Check points and the little things. It should run even if it's a little out of whack. Coil,
condenser etc...
good luck, Ron :002:
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: johns2000 on 2008-12-06 20:25
Double check wires are in the correct firing order, # 1 mistake made by many!!!
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: 4banger on 2008-12-07 08:52
If you have fuel at the carb then take off coil wire off dist. and ground it to see if you have juice to the dist. If you dont , then check before it. If you do , check after it.
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-11 21:46
done the suggesions and still no go...
any more ideas?
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: shopratwoody on 2008-12-11 23:08
Cam Timing?
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-12 13:24
Cam timing?
do you refer to the cam and crank being lined up properly per the usual Yblock requirements??
if so, then yes, they are oriented correct; I confirmed this recently with the shop that rebuilt the engine for me a while back... the tech knew right away what I was asking about since he had a Yblock in his past...

also, I stabbed the dist correctly when I replaced it... #1 piston at TDC... per my service manual...

anthing else?

thanks again, Mark
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: shopratwoody on 2008-12-12 14:43
Are the valves closing? Not too tight? Sounds like you're pretty much up on everything. Does it even
backfire out the carb or exhaust?
Ron
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: maurits1947 on 2008-12-12 15:44
Verify that there is spark at the plugs, if it has gas at the carb and spark at the plug there has to be some type of response, either a back fire or appears to start on one or so cylinders.  Is the coil wired correctly, drop resistor goes to the run position, full 13.2 volts goes to the start position of the ignition switch to the coil(bypasses the drop resistor).  Coil receives about 8 volts or so when the key is in the run position.  The car won't start the other way, the starter draws too much and the coil can't saturate.
Make sure that the condenser in the distributor is good.  Battery is at 100%.
You can check spark by pulling wire (don't pull the plug)and using another plug against a ground, look or listen for spark at the plug.  Is the firing order set correctly I believe it's 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 intake manifold should be marked if I remember correctly.  Good luck.   Maury
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: wolfpupsdad on 2008-12-12 17:35
 make sure the distributor isn't 180 degrees out
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: Jim on 2008-12-12 18:33
Quote from: texasmark1 on 2008-12-06 16:25
well, today it really should have started!!**&&^^%%!!

background: rebuilt 272, all wiring replaced, new radiator and gas tank, and about a thousand other things over the last 19 years... I'm slow but you know how it is when you have to stop most everything to raise a family!!

Lastly, installed new fuel pump, got gas up to and into the carb, turns over, but no start...

can my timing be so off that starting would be impossible?  can't think of anything else, but would appreciate some suggestions/experiences/advice!!

I gotta get this thing started pretty soon or the Mrs and my Jr. mechanic-13 yr old son are going to re-think their faith in DAD!!

appreciate any help
Mark
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: Hoosier Hurricane on 2008-12-13 05:30
Maury:

I believe that firing order is chevy.  The Y firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.  The distributor turns counterclockwise.  As mentioned above, the distributor would be 180 degrees off if #1 was at the end of the exhaust stroke instead of on the compression stroke when the distributor was installed.

John
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: Frankenstein57 on 2008-12-13 09:21
We always held our thumb over the #1 plug hole, crank it slowly untill the compression pushes out, then your timing mark should be coming to TDC. The rotor should be pointing at #1 on the cap, gas, spark, and wala- fire in the hole!   Mark
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: rickj on 2008-12-13 19:04
watch removing distributor, make sure the shaft goes back into oil pump and is engaged
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-14 20:51
thanks to all the great advice sent my way so far...!

I did have the distributor cap on about 180 degrees off, plus the plug wires off as well...

fixed that and almost got it running... so close...

by the way, I have replaced the points and condensor w/a Petonix set up inclucing coil...

believe I need just a bit more fine tuning on the position of the pick up in the dist and I'll have it...

thanks again for all the right-on suggestions... can't wait to join the ranks of driving 57 owners that make up this cool forum!
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: johns2000 on 2008-12-15 14:55
You'll love the Pertronix set up, I have their billet dist. the flame thrower II along with the low resistance coil, starts and shuts down in the blink of an eye!! Plus you can re-curve it yourself with the color coded springs, good luck and enjoy.
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: maurits1947 on 2008-12-16 10:08
Reply to Hoosier Hurricane,

John,
You're right thanks for correcting me, How dare I post a chev firing order on this site, I though about it afterwards and became unsure of my firing order answer.  Sorry.

Maury

Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-16 20:00
hey, no prob here either... I'm a "belt and suspenders" type myself, so I check the firing order stamped in the intake manifold as well as my service manual...!
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: Hoosier Hurricane on 2008-12-17 06:43
All is cool now.  Mark, did you get it running yet?  Don't give up.

John
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-18 21:26
still to come...

plan on getting together w/my favorite brother-in-law this weekend to try again... weather is supposed to be good here in Houston by then...

hoping that its just a matter of getting the distributor stabbed right...

in the meantime, I'm helping the Mrs. wrap presents for the kids and the inlaws...

hope to post a pic or two of my car in the near future... suppose its fairly easy on this site, right??

happy holidays to all you great Ford fans out there and again, thanks for all the great suggestions and encouragement...!

Merry Christmas from Texas!
Mark
Title: Re: it shoulda' started TODAY!!
Post by: texasmark1 on 2008-12-20 18:19
STARTED TODAY!

Please see my new thread "It finally started today" for the latest.

and thanks again to all who have contributed to this discussion; I really appreciate it!

Mark