randy ransome

This is a long post but I need help. I searched here and saw several post about this but I never saw a definitive answer. I'm not a mechanic but I can tinker a bit.

I have a 1967 427 3X2 400hp. I bought it one year ago. It had sit for 17 years.
I had the carburetors rebuilt and got it running. It would start fine until about 6 weeks ago. If I let it sit a few days it was hard to get it to start. When it did start it was rich but it would clear up and run fine after a few minutes. After starting I could drive it all day and it would start right up, first try.

It has new Petronic plug wires and AC, R45XLS plugs. Last week I got it to start so I took it to a buddy's house and we changed the distributor cap, rotor, points and condenser. We set the timing and dwell and I drove it home. It ran fine and started up several times. I let it sit a few days. This time before I tried to start it I removed the float bowl screws on all 3 carburetors and checked the float level, all bowls had fuel up to the bottom of the hole. I checked the accelerator pump and It was pumping a good stream of fuel. I tried to start it, it would spin over but no start. I opened the choke and tried again it would spin but not start.
I held the gas open and tried again, no start. It never acts like it's trying to start up.

I've pulled all the plugs several times and they look to be firing fine. Sometimes when I've pulled the plugs a few would be wet sometimes not. I've poured a little gas in the center carburetor, no help. I've always been told if you have Fire, Fuel and Air it will crank...not so far, for this car.

Thanks

jimh_1962

Weak spark??? What coil are you using?

randy ransome

Yeah, It's got the original coil. The spark looks bright...but 50 years old.

SW Vette

The front and rear carbs have nothing to do with starting. They basically act as vacuum actuated secondaries and the car runs off the center carb until the throttle is opened wide under load.

The coil is a possibility but what's happening with your choke? Is it set correctly for a cold start?

MikeM

I know you said it had a spark.

Next time it won't start, put a test light on the distributor side of the coil and crank the engine. You should see a bright light flashing off/on. Not dim/bright.

randy ransome

I just tried this and it's not flashing as bright as the light is if you touch it to 12 volts, battery.

jimh_1962

Check the points and replace the coil with another one. Is your battery charged? Check to make sure all of the connections are solid? Loose wires... Never know. I would bet its an electrical problem.

DansYellow66

Add checking the condenser to your list. If you have your old one I would try putting it on. A few years ago I managed to fry the condenser on my 67 GTX (I think I was setting points) and that was the end of it starting.

MikeM

The key here is, is the light flashing off/on and not just bright/dim/bright/ dim.

You don't have a full 12 volts on the distributor terminals.

randy ransome

Yes off and on.

MikeM

Well, that means your points are working.

Doesn't guarantee the coil or condenser though.

SW Vette

If the car runs fine but won't start, it's carburetion, probably the choke.

Robert61

Randy did you get your car running? Let me know if you need any help.