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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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Default Some questions....need help!

I was putting a battery into the car I bought recently for the first time today. After tons of sparks, the smell of saluter, and burning my hand twice, I came to the conclusion that there was something wrong with my battery connections. I took a picture of where the terminal is suppose to connect under the hood. I dont think its connected right, but I aint gunna change it until someone tells if if I am right or not....here are the pics:




Also there is this thing on the side of the block with no bolts in it....does anyone know what it is called?


Lastly, does anyone know what this tube coming out of the front of the carb is??
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:15 PM
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see thats what I thought, but i didnt understand why it would have been grounded in the first place!!! (I DIDNT DO IT I SWEAR!!!!)
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:30 PM
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In the 2nd pic I think the small black wire is the ground wire for the wiper motor, if it is than it should connect to the bottom starter bolt.
The last pic is the PCV with the vapor canister line spliced into it. That goes in the valve cover hole on the drivers side.
Also behind the carb the 3 way "T" has nothing going to it. Cap the 3 holes off untill you get the motor runing and you can fix that next. PG.

Last edited by Peterbuilt; Apr 17, 2009 at 06:33 PM.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 06:42 PM
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You live right-





As Pete pointed out, that wire "d" is very possibly a ground- especially if it had a large ring end. Take the battery cable off the starter mount bolt and put wire d there.

Looks like your rocker covers are on the wrong sides too. Something to fix later.

Almost forgot--
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by TimAT
Looks like your rocker covers are on the wrong sides too. Something to fix later.
Once you put the valve covers on the correct side the PCV valve will be able to reach the hole in the valve cover. You may also find where the "Y" in the PCV hose was connected once you rotate the hose to the driver side of the engine.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 08:47 PM
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WOW that step my step was very amazing....I cant thank you enough for that.
I look forward to getting to fix it all now!
One question, are you saying that I have the left valve cover on the right side and visa versa? And then once I switch those, the PCV should reach the valve cover hole on the driver side?
Thanks again!
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 08:58 PM
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yes,the hole in the cover goes toward the front on the drivers side.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 09:24 PM
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Thanks alot!
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 09:28 PM
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One thing about your valve cover. Do you have a oil fill cap on the other side? Usually the oil fill & pcv hole are both on the left side cover, unless a '79 is different........
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:02 PM
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Yea the oil cover is on the driver side right now.
Does this mean I should not switch them?
Here is a picture of the driver side.....you can't see the oil cap very well, but you can see its shadow on the left corner of the shot.

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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:04 PM
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you also must have a good "big" ground cable from the frame to the motor block for Gnd. attached somewhere !!
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by SEVNT6
One thing about your valve cover. Do you have a oil fill cap on the other side? Usually the oil fill & pcv hole are both on the left side cover, unless a '79 is different........
Before the valve covers are switched around, the cover with the oil fill cap needs to be located ... jordanR09 - please post another pic.

The valve cover on the right side in the pic looks just like the one on the right side in my '70 sb. I don't know anything about a '79 engine, so I could be off base here.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:19 PM
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Right side valve cover looks to be on the correct side. Left side cover looks like its on the correct side but the little hole should be to the front. You have a few bolts (studs) missing from the carb and I don't see the throttle cable bracket. PG.
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by petes74ttop
Right side valve cover looks to be on the correct side. Left side cover looks like its on the correct side but the little hole should be to the front. You have a few bolts (studs) missing from the carb and I don't see the throttle cable bracket. PG.
Left side cover is right, just turned around. And the hole in the right side cover is for the breather element in the air cleaner, not the pcv.....
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Old Apr 17, 2009 | 10:44 PM
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ok Ill write all that down. I know about the throttle cable bracket, I am trying to locate one right now. I also just ordered the studs for the carb. 69Vett - I know the ground is down because of all the sparks and burn mark on my hand right now!
Do any of you know where the vapor canister line that is spliced into the pcv line connects?? Thanks for all the help, its been epic
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 10:05 AM
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The vapor canister is near the bottom, rear of the drivers fender. PG.
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 01:50 PM
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You also have a tube missing from your choke. It's the U-shaped one in the pic.



It is attached to the choke housing via that reddish rubber hose.



Here you can see the throttle cable bracket mentioned by Pete. It is held down by the missing rear carb bolts.


Last edited by Paul L; Apr 19, 2009 at 02:00 PM.
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 02:01 PM
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Look under the motor mount on the passenger side and see if there is a large cable connected between the motor mount bottom on the frame and to the engine block on the other end. That is the high current ground for the starter, no end of problems if its missing or bad.
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 07:16 PM
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I took some more pictures.
After about 2 hours of work, I got the valve cover switched around and the battery working.
Of course I got really excited and tried to fire it up, nothing....guess i should have expected that.
Like a little kid at Christmas that got no toys....

Anyway, does my starter solenoid look good now??


Any ideas why the started didnt click when I turned the key??

Here are the left and right side of my engine, just for anyone to look at, maybe someone can see something that I need to do and let me know.




Someone asked me earlier in the thread for a pic of the whole car, this is the best I got right now, Ill take some more soon.


Paul on your pic (of the carb) I am having a little trouble seeing the tube that you were referring too....can you tell me what part of the pic to look at? I cant spot the reddish tube you are referring too....

THANKS SOOO MUCH EVERYONE!
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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Take a closer look. It is obvious. I have not driven a 1979 since 2003 and cannot take new pics.
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