S80 First time to try and start it up

[FERG]

So I have the engine oiling fine. I made sure number #1 was at tdc. I stabbed the distributor and wired the plugs with the 1342 firing order. I used a little gas down the mouth of the carb and then tried some ether spray. It doesn't even feel like it's trying to fire off.

I double checked the firing order and tried rotating the dist. A little each way while turning the key and nothing.

I then pulled a plug and put it on the wire and grounded it to the block to check for fire. It was a weak spark in my opinion but it was sparking.

I have yet to adjust the dwell as I don't have a meter fer it. I did use a little paper to clean the points off since it has been parked for 5 years or so.


I have the delco dist. So it will need the 72* when I get a meter.
Also, mine is the earlier dual points set up not the unipoint system.

Is there anything else I can check or look at in the mean time until momma lets me spend some more dough for a dwell meter?
Am I missing anything?

 

[FERG]

Ok, so I was wrong. On a triple check I found that while I had the plug order correct, I had it going counter clockwise not clockwise. I changed that and tried again. I got a little chugging sound and some sputter out the tailpipe. But still wouldnt fire off. How much of that ether spray should I be trying to use? I am affraid to go to heavy wit hthat or gas for fear of a backfire and ensuing fireball. Any other thoughts ?

 

[Michael Mayben]

No dwell meter, then set the breaker point gap to 0.017". It's a pita to get in there with a thickness gauge (ya gotta use an ignition-type gauge, the small one) and make sure the point rubbing block is sitting on the high portion of the cam.

You should have a strong spark across the spark plug gap when it's grounded in the open atmosphere. If you can get a strong spark, then while cranking, rotate the distributor slowly back and forth until it tries to fire. If it spits back through the carb throat (and most likely shoots a flame, then the distributor position is retarded. If it cranks hard like the battery is dead, then the distributor is advanced. Split the difference and it will fire off!

 

[FERG]

And make sure the point rubbing block is sitting on the high portion of the cam.

Wow that was quick...


Your reffering to when the points open up, correct? And the gap should only be the .017"? Would it be better if I pulled it and did it on the bench, or at least easier?

 

[Michael Mayben]

wow that was quick...


Your reffering to when the points open up, correct? And the gap should only be the .017"? Would it be better if I pulled it and did it on the bench, or at least easier?

Yes you are right! It's much easier to access the breaker point gap with the distributor on the bench!

Go easy with the starter fluid helper. If you are getting fuel to the carb, when ya wing the throttle it should squirt out the accelerator pump shooter and that will be sufficient to enrichen the mixture for starting, but keep your face away from the carb throat, I singe my eyebrows/beard and what's left of my hair nearly every week! Don't have to shave or trim that way.

Now back to my sausage jambalaya and blackeye peas!

 

[Scoutboy74]

now back to my sausage jambalaya and blackeye peas!

Wut the hail! Yawl wuz holdin' out on me an jerry!

 

[Michael Mayben]

wut the hail! Yawl wuz holdin' out on me an jerry!

Shit wuz hid in tha washouse freezer behind them homekill venison roasts and yore dam elkaroni sticks! Tha bambimeat wus home-raised and grass fed in sonja's front yard, she took it out through tha winder from the recliner and then went back ta tha nap. That's why tha plywood is in tha winder.

 

[FERG]

shit wuz hid in tha washouse freezer behind them homekill venison roasts and yore dam elkaroni sticks! Tha bambimeat wus home-raised and grass fed in sonja's front yard, she took it out through tha winder from the recliner and then went back ta tha nap. That's why tha plywood is in tha winder.

Ha, oregon and jumbalaya? You yankees don't know shiz from shinola about jumbalaya. I am slightly impressed that you had enough venison to hide it behind though.

 

[Scoutboy74]

Uh oh. Now ya went and dun did it. Yankees? Well, yeah oregon is north of texas. I am a native oregonian, however I prefer the term pacific north westerner or just westerner as it don't have the "baggage" the other term carries, which really doesn't really apply anyway. Now mayben on the other hand...well, I'm sure he'll fill ya in raht kwik on where he hails from originally.

 

[Michael Mayben]

ha, oregon and jumbalaya? You yankees don't know shiz from shinola about jumbalaya. I am slightly impressed that you had enough venison to hide it behind though.

Yep, I know a thang or two about down-south/whitetrash grub since I'm a practitioner of the lifestyle. And I came of age at the second terlingua chili cookoff, the real one that was hq'd on the porch of the perry house with carrol shelby, wick fowler, david witt, and frank x. Tolbert.

Fifth generation texian here, and my kids and grands up in ne tejas are sixth and seventh gen. My folks are still kickin' north of ft. Worth.

We don't live in tejas now 'cause the weather is shit except down in the big bend kuntry. Left there in '92.

 

[FERG]

Ok, then ya getz a pass.

I know all about the pacific north westerners, my cousin married one and he's a great friend but I love to give him crap about bein from north of the red river.

I guess weather bein crap is matter of lattitude, I can't stand the snow. It's nice for a day or two, but I prefer the sunshine and 100*.

 

[FERG]

Go easy with the starter fluid helper. If you are getting fuel to the carb, when ya wing the throttle it should squirt out the accelerator pump shooter and that will be sufficient to enrichen the mixture for starting

Actually I am not getting anything in the way of fuel flow yet. I am not sure if just cranking it over is enough to produce the flow just yet. I disconnected the fue l line and put it in a gas can to draw from for the moment while I try to get it started. I was trying to pour it right down the carbs gullet for now to try and start it up, but I wasn't sure how much would be to much for the little single barrell.

 

[Michael Mayben]

If the fuel pump is functional, and you are drawing directly from a container of fuel sitting on the floor close to the fuel pump inlet, then about 20 turns of the crankshaft at cranking speed will fill the carb fuel bowl if the needle/seat is allowing fuel flow.

If ya have no/insufficient fuel in the bowl, it ain't gonna squirt fuel out the shooter, and it ain't gonna run!

When you pour liquid fuel or starter fluid down the gullet, it will pour out of the throttle shaft area on the carb throttle body, it's supposed to, that is not an issue when it does that. That means you have now flooded the combustion chambers.