No start
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 21
Likes: 5
From: Nashville Tennessee
No start
The car has been running great with no misfires or anything out of the ordinary. I got in the car this weekend and it fired over for a second then quit. Tried shooting ether down the carb to no avail. I have replaced all of the spark plugs and verified it has spark but it still will not start. The engine will not even try to fire it will just crank crank crank. Any ideas?
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,247
From: US-PNW
You first need to check for spark at the plugs; I'm guessing you have none otherwise the ether would have ignited. I'm not versed in HEI distributors (as your '75 should have) and all that but others will need to know if you have the stock GM distributor or an aftermarket? Any other modifications to the ignition or carburetor other than an aluminum intake?
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,247
From: US-PNW
Out of curiosity, when you crank and crank, are the plugs wet with fuel and does the exhaust smell like raw gasoline?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 21
Likes: 5
From: Nashville Tennessee
I remember when I changed the intake that I could reach through the hole in the block and lift the timing chain about 1/4 inch off of the gear. I would still think it would at least try to fire even if it had jumped time but I could be wrong. The engine had flooded because I pumped the pedal way too much trying to start it. I figured I had fouled the plugs out but its got new spark plugs now so that shouldn't be the problem I wouldn't think.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Have a friend get in and bump the engine over while you hold your thumb over #1 spark plug hole......blow the thumb and get the mark on the balancer on 0 from there with a bar. Now pull the cap. Where is the rotor pointing? It should be at #1 wire on the cap.......you mark a line with the cap installed to the base to spell out #1 on the base....straight down mark.When you pull the cap it should be pointing at that mark....or close to it. If not.....then you have jumped cam timing. Now put your bar back on and rotate the crank back and forth......how many degrees at the crank does it move before the distributor does? You maybe in for a timing chain job....but if it had 1/4" slack it should just be changed.....engines like that with sloppy timing chains are difficult to tune and do all kinds of weird **** on and off the throttle......
Jebby
Jebby
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
The car has been running great with no misfires or anything out of the ordinary. I got in the car this weekend and it fired over for a second then quit. Tried shooting ether down the carb to no avail. I have replaced all of the spark plugs and verified it has spark but it still will not start. The engine will not even try to fire it will just crank crank crank. Any ideas?
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 225
If this thing has jumped time enough to cause a no start, you can probably hear a difference in the cranking sound. That being said, if you have spark and fuel, the next item is to make sure that the distributor and crank are in time.
If you can line up the timing mark on the damper at TDC, then the rotor should be lined up with #1 or 6. If not, then it's probably jumped. Funny, how engines run fine up to that point, then it jumps. How many miles, and is it the original plastic toothed gear?
If you can line up the timing mark on the damper at TDC, then the rotor should be lined up with #1 or 6. If not, then it's probably jumped. Funny, how engines run fine up to that point, then it jumps. How many miles, and is it the original plastic toothed gear?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 21
Likes: 5
From: Nashville Tennessee
It has 72k and the original plastic gear. I believe my problem is a weak coil or ignition module. It has incredibly weak spark (an orange color). I ordered a new distributor so hopefully that fixes the problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
I remember when I changed the intake that I could reach through the hole in the block and lift the timing chain about 1/4 inch off of the gear. I would still think it would at least try to fire even if it had jumped time but I could be wrong. The engine had flooded because I pumped the pedal way too much trying to start it. I figured I had fouled the plugs out but its got new spark plugs now so that shouldn't be the problem I wouldn't think.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,402
Likes: 8,209
From: Napa Valley California
Double check your points, easy,
install a new coil, cap and rotor, easy and cheap,
Check voltage at the coil, easy,
Start tearing apart pulleys etc, and replace the timing chain, time consuming but reasonably easy and cheap.
install a new coil, cap and rotor, easy and cheap,
Check voltage at the coil, easy,
Start tearing apart pulleys etc, and replace the timing chain, time consuming but reasonably easy and cheap.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 21
Likes: 5
From: Nashville Tennessee
Got the new distributor in and the engine fired right up. Set timing to 12 degrees and it runs as good if not better than before. I will be looking into and gathering parts for a new timing chain and maybe even a cam swap. Thank you all for your input and help on getting the old girl back running again.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 225
Are you ready to crack that motor open? I wouldn't touch it if it's running fine, unless you intend to race it. but if it's stock..........
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
doesn't matter what you are doing with it. a 40 year old nylon timing gear is a grenade with the pin already pulled. i missed a shift with my 65 GTO. in 77. all the teeth left the timing gear. 12 year old gear. not 47 years old. i guess you can see the gear with a borescope with the pan dropped? and nobody races a 75 L48 that has never been apart. at least they don't win much...